Thirdly he loved David as his own soul with a love of beneficence or well doing to David he gives David his Robe and Garments even to his bow and his girdle and his sword ver 4. Fourthly Ionathan loved David with a love of acquiescence or resting in his love Quest 12. You have described what love is in general But what now is this grace of Christian love and charity to be examined and enlivened before we come to the Lords Supper Ans True Christian love and charity is a grace freely given of God wrought in the heart and soul of a believing man or woman by the spirit of Christ by which a man or woman who is enlightned with the true knowledge of God of himself and ol his neighbour is inabled in true affection of soul to love with love of union and complacency or well pleasing and in action of life to declare his or her love in beneficency and well doing First towards God above all as the chiefest good according to his revealed will giving up our selves to God Secondly towards our selves next under God seeking our own salvation and good temporal and eternal Thirdly towards our neighbour in and for God as we love our selves 2 Thes 3.5 Ioh. 1.16 Gal. 5.12 Rom. 5.4 5 6. Deut. 6.4 5 6 7 8 9 Mat. 22.37 39. Rev. 4.10 11. 1 Cor. 10.3 Eph. 6. Luk. 10.27 Mat. 7.12 Psa 42.1 2. Cant. 3.4 Phil. 2.12 Cant. 1.4 6 8. 1 Ioh. 4.19 20. and 4.7 12. 1 Cor. 13. Eph. 4.15 16. Rom. 12.10 13 14 15 16. Quest 13. But what is this love or wherein is this Grace of love to be exercised and who is my neighbour to whom I should shew this Christian love and charity and vvhat light from Christ to reveal this and so lead to Christ Ans I shall shew more fully who is our neighbour and in what duties as it concerneth all in general This love is to be exercised when I come to unfold the ten Commandements in the last part Luk. 10.3 4. But now in brief every man is my neighbour which the Lord presents to me as an object of mercy or love to do good unto Gal. 6.10 but in special and more particularly the houshold of Faith and our fellow Saints in the Church of Christ Quest 14. I remember in the fourteenth Classis when you did speak of the Church although you did describe principally the Church of Gods elect yet you said the Church is or may be said to be a visible company of men and women professing the Faith of Christ and obedience thereunto Rom. 16.26 and so as there have been so there may be some hypocrites in the Church not discerned how then shall I know who are these Saints upon whom and to or with whom I should exercise this Christian love and charity Ans Howsoever there are and may be some hypocrites in the Church yet whosoever is a visible Saint or Saint in profession and outward appearance at least Act. 8. called by the word and spirit to the visible profession of Faith and holinesse and fitly admitted in to the society and fellowship of the Church This man or woman is to be esteemed of the household of Faith and a fellow Saint to or with whom a child of God ought to exercise and communicate this grace of Christian love and charity Quest 15. But what do you mean by right and fit admission into the fellowship of the Church and houshold of God or how or when or by what way and means may a man or woman be admitted and received as a Member of Christs-Church and of the houshold of God and fellowship or communion of Saints Ans There is a two fold entrance into the Church of Christ or to be the children of God in Christ Iesus the first an inward or spiritual the second an outward corporal or visible entrance Quest 16. What or how manifold is that inward and spiritual entrance you speak of Ans This inward or spiritual entrance is the work of God making Christians First in election Eph. 1.4 5. Luk. 10.20 2 Tim. 2.19 Rev. 13.8 Col. 1.20 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Rom. 1 7. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Act. 26.18 writing and enrolling the names of all those whom the Lord knoweth to be his in the Book of life of the Lamb of Christ slain from the foundation of the world Secondly making inward Christians in redemption by Christ who hath made our peace by the blood of his Crosse Thirdly they are made Christians in effectual vocation when we are called out of the world by the perswasion of the spirit of Christ in the Word and drawn unto Christ by the Father to believe and receive and rest on Christ for salvation Ioh. 6.44 2 Cor. 4.13 Gal. 3.16 1 Cor. 6.17 Eph. 2.19 and thus as a believer is united inwardly by the spirit as a member of Christ unto Christ the Head of his Church as one not onely mutually joyned in heart and affection unto Christ but as one that enrolleth and entreth his name in heart and minde in the registry of Saints as a servant of the Lord Christ and fellow Souldier and Citizen with the Saints and of the household of God Fourthly we are made Christians in justification act 13.38 39. Eph. 1.6 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Revel 2.17 Mat. 17.5 when God doth justifie in and by Christ when the Lord Christ doth give us the white stone of justification and in that doth write our new name of Christians justifying a believer before God his Father and God the Father accepts us for Christians in Christ Iesus Ioh. 1.12 Ioh. 3.3 Rom 6.4 5 6. Gal. 3.27 1 Cor. 12.12 c. Fifthly we are not almost but altogether made Christians in and by inward regeneration and sanctification of the spirit of Christ when we are baptized into Christ and by one spirit into one body of which Christ is the Head and put on Christ and are made new creatures and so are entred or admitted into the Church of Christ and fellowship or communion of Saints 2 Cor. 5.17 Sixthly Eph. 1.5 Gal. 4.5 6. Rom. 8.16 17. Rev. 3.12 Rev. 2.17 Gâ—l 4.4 5 6. 1 Ioh. 2.19 Ioh. 10.30 31. Gen. 17.1 2. Ier. 1.5 Luk. 1.15 act 9 6 15 c. we are made not almost but altogether inward Christians by adoption when the Lord doth take a man or woman for his son or daughter yea makes us heires with and in Christ Iesus and giveth that new name promised in the Scriptures And all that are thus inwardly and spiritually entred and admitted into the Church of Christ are Saints indeed and shall remain Saints for ever These are truly of the Church and a man or a woman an elect childe of God may thus inwardly be a Saint and admitted by Christ as a member of his Church before they be outwardly admitted as Abraham and others before circumcision and many catechumene's or instructed persons were
6.8 Ephes 4. â—0 Answ First by the power of Christ dwelling in my soul I may endeavour to stir up and be affected with a holy reverence godly sorrow and humblenesse of spirit in my heart quickned in or by a serious meditation or thinking 1. Of my great unthankfulnesse to God my Father in Christ for his Free grace and love to my soul in the Lord Iesus 1 Cor. 3.1 c. Heb. 5.12 who loved me and gave himselfe for me that I have grieved his Spirit by whom I am seal'd to the day of redemptioÌ„ 2. By meditation or thinking of my great unprofitablenesse in my former partaking of Christ in this and other sacred ordinances what small growth in knowledge faith love power over sin fruitfulnesse in good works and other graces 3. In meditating and thinking of my own weaknesse unworthiness and unfitnesse now to meet Christ Gen. 28. 26 17. Isa 6.5 6 7. 1 Cor. 11 28 29. Gal. 3.1 Luk. 2.19 Hest 5.2 Mark 5.27 c. my inability to examine my selfe or discerne the Lords body or by the eye of faith to see Christ crucified for me and meditate untill I be truly affected with a holy reverence and childe-like fear of offending my God in not comming rightly fitted for the Lords presence in this sacred Ordinance so that I durst not approach if I did not hope that in Christ the golden Scepter of grace shall be holden forth unto me for my comfort therefore presse to come to Christ for vertue from Christ to strengthen grace in my soul 4. In meditating and thinking of my former breach of covenant with my God and Father which I have renued time after time in this sacred Ordinance and too often broken againe for all which I should endeavour by the power of Christ and his Spirit to wait on Christ in meditation and prayer untill I finde my selfe affected with a holy godly sorrow and humblenesse of spirit for that I have in the least measure offended my God and loving Father in Jesus Christ so that as I may so I can confesse truly with the Centurion Lord I am not worthy thou shouldest come under the roofe of the house of my heart Gen. 32.24 c. Hos 12.4 Rom. 8.26 27. Iudg. 10.15 16. Mat. 15.27 28. speak but the word and thy servant shall be healed Matth. 8.8 Or with the poor Publican stand a far off as scarce daring to look up to heaven had I not Christ my Mediator and smiting my breast say as the repenting Publican God be mercifull to me a sinner Luke 18.13 Lord once again seal the assurance of my pardon in and by Christ to my own soul Quest 3. What is a second immediate preparatory grace or gracious affection or sanctified act or motion of the soul as a preparative for the quickning of which you should wait on Christ immediately before you draw near to the Lords Table Answ I may and ought to wait on Christ and look up to Christ untill I finde by the power of Christs Spirit in my soul in sense and feeling of my great need of Christ A holy hunger and spirituall thirst-desiring-desire and earnest longing after Christ and his soul-cherisbing vertue and spirituall nourishment which my soul wants First to seal my assurance of Christs unchangeable love to me And secondly to strengthen and nourish in me my life of grace and my love and obedience to my God and my Father in the Lord Iesus Christ Psal 63.1 c. Ps 107.9 Ier. 44.3 Ier. 31.3 Mal. 3.6 Iohn 13.1 Phil. 4.13 Rom. 16.26 Gal. 2.20 my Lord and my Redeemer who loved me and gave himself for mee and will enliven me according to the rich promises of Christ in the Gospel as Psal 42.1 2 c. Luk. 22.15 as Christ so a Christian to meet Christ Quest 4. What is a third immediate preparatory grace or gracious affection of the soule for the quickning of which you must and ought to look up unto and wait on Christ and endeavour to enliven and exercise immediately before you draw near to the Lords table are invited by Christs Ministers to partake of that bread and drink that Cap in the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper what light from Christ to reveal him unto you Answ I may and ought by strength from Christ to meditate of Christs gracious invitation of me 1. As a poor humbled sinner to come in to him and finde rest and refreshing to my soul as Mat. 11.22 2. Inviting me as one of his believing sons or daughters to come to his feast and to partake of his Supper as Cantic 5.1 Isa 55.1 2 c. Luke 14.17.24 Rev. 19 9 Mat. 22.1 c. 2 Chro. 30.18 c. 3. To meditate of this invitation untill by the spirit of Christ my heart be affected with joyfulnesse that I may come and have liberty to come with joy and rejoycing to the Lords Table as to a most free and rich mariage feast in which I hope to have a sweet union and communion with Christ my Lord the heavenly husband of my soul Quest 5. What is the fourth preparatory grace or gracious affection resolution or act of the soul to be renewed quickned and enlivened immediately before you are coming to the Lords Table Answ As the Lord is pleased in this holy Sacrament to seal and confirme his Covenant of free grace in Christ and of the communion and union of Christ with me and my soul so first by the power from Christ when I draw near to this blessed Sacrament I do not only resolve by the grace of God to renew out actually by his grace I do renew my Covenant vows protestations to with the Lord my God 2. And as the Lord doth take avouch and acknowledge me to be one of his people in Christ so I doe avouch witnesse and vow that the Lord is and shall be my God and Father in Christ Iesus by the same power and grace of Christ 3. And that I do and will renounce all my former sins and failings and all sinfull union and communion with those spirituall enemies Deut. 26.27 the World the Flesh and the Devill 4. And freely and fully offer up and render my self wholeman soul and body to do and suffer the will of God in every condition and state of life untill I be dissolved and be with Christ Psal 50.4 c. to live with him in glory and to do the will of God for ever Gather my Saints to me who have renewed a covenant with me as in the Sacrament Quest 6. Is there nothing further necessary that a poor soul may be assured he or she may with comfort meet Christ and feast with him at his Table Answ Yes the resolution of a great question by the light and strength of Christs Spirit to look into the glasse of Gods Word and of my own heart and soul comparing them together to see and examine and know 1. What
the spirit of Christ to know believe and feel and be affected in his heart and conscience with his own self guiltinesse of sin original and actual and of bondage under sin and misery due to sin yea of his subjection to the wrath of God to death and damnation eternal for sin Thirdly with the sence of his utter inability to save himself Fourthly of his extreme need of Christ in some sence Eph. i. 16 c. Heb. 4.12 13. 1 Thes 1.4 5 6. 2 Tim. 3.15 c. Ier. 31.34 2 Cor. 5.16 Ps 57 i.2 3. Rom. 3.20 and 7.17 Eph. 16.28 c. Gen. 30. 1 Mar. 5.25 c. Phi. 1.29 Act. 16.14 and 13.48 2 Pet. 1.1 2 3. Eph. 1 i6 17 c. Rom. 10.17 Gen. 18.18 19. Mat. 16.13 c. Eph. 1.19 2 Cor. 3.8 and 4.5 Gal. 4.15 6. and 5.4 5 6. Luk. 24.25 c. Prov. 30.5 Isai 5.20 Ioh. 5.39 Rom. 15.4 act 17.11 12. and 24.14 c. and 2.19 Eph. 1.13 1 Tim. 1.5 c. act 20.24 Rom. 10.10 2 Tim. 1.12 act 15.9 Gal. 5.6 as Rachel did of children give me Christ or else I die then is the soul fit and ready to receive Christ with his precious justifying living Faith Quest 5. Who and what is the principal worker or efficient cause of our Faith Ans The principal efficient cause is God himself the Father Son and blessed Spirit or God the Father in the Son by the Spirit which great God by his Grace and in his free love hath elected and doth call his children to Faith and Glory in the Gospel and worketh Faith in them by the spirit of Faith and working of his mighty power in the world Quest 6. What is the instrumental efficient or working cause of Faith the means by which or by whom we believe Ans This is two fold outward and inward and the outward is ordinarily the Word of God in the preaching of the Gospel and catechizing inwardly the spirit of Christ called the spirit of Faith Quest 7. What is the material cause ground or object of Faith Ans The whole Word of God in general and the rich promises of Grace and Covenant of Gods free love or Gospel of the Grace of God in particular Quest 8. What is the form or nature of this Faith this precious Faith of Gods Elect Ans The form of this Faith First is not onely a light of knowledge in the understanding and assent to the truth of the Word of God as an historical Faith is Secondly Nor some temporary joy in the word as in temporal Faith Thirdly but it is this knowledge and assent joyned with a firm confidence and affiancy in the heart and will to rest on Christ and Christ his merits and righteousnesse and to trust in Christ alone for salvation As the vegetative or growing life and the sensitive or life of sence is joyned with the reasonable faculty or reasonable life in the soul in man which distinguisheth men and women from all brute creatures even so is this confidence and assured rest on Christ in this Faith joyned with knowledge and assent and sweet fruits in Faith which distinguisheth it from all false faith whatsoever Quest 9. But hath this true Faith allwayes joyned with it this confidence and assured rest on Christ Ans This Faith when it is a stronge well grown Faith 1 Cor. 7.5 Mat. 8.26 and 14.31 Isai 42.3 Psal 1.6 Heb. 12.2 it hath this blessed confidence and assured rest on Christ though not alwayes free from temptations to doubt But a weak Faith though it be a true Faith is often subject to fears and doubtings yet so as God in Christ inables the soul to stand and adhere to Christ and preserved from final despaire in greatest times of tryal for the comfort of weak Christians Quest 10. What are the effects and fruits of this true lively Faith Ans The effects of this true lively Faith in a believer or of Christ in the soul Christ thus truely apprehended and rested on by Faith in apprehending of Christs righteousnesse are divers And First justification by Christs righteousnesse and merits Rom. 5.1 act 13.39 Secondly sanctification and purity of heart 1 Cor. 1.1 2 3. Thirdly Christian liberty from the condemning and commanding power of sin Rom. 8.12 Rom. 5.1 Fourthly peace of conscience which passeth all understanding 2 Cor. 5.14 Rom. 8.35 36 37 38. Iohn 8. 5 6. Rom. 5.4.5 and 15.13 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5 6. 2 Pet. 1.10 11. Heb. 11.1 1 Pet. 1.8 Fifthly Love of Christ and a longing desire to walk in the wayes of Grace inseparable against all persecution Sixthly Joy in the love and sight of Christ and in the comfortable assurance of perseverance in grace and lively hope of Heaven Seventhly A kinde of entrance into eternal glory Faith making that as present to the eye of our souls which is not seen or present to the eyes of our bodies and yet affecting a beleevers heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory Qâ—est 11. What is the end of this true lively justifying faith this precious faith of Saints Ans The end of this faith or Christs benefits received and enjoyed by Faith is Ephes 1.5 6 7. 2 Thes 1.10 Eph. 3.16 c. 1 Thes 5.23 24. 1 Pet. 1.9 Rom. 8.30 First and principally the glory of God in Christ Secondly the preservation comforting and strengthning of our souls in the Kingdom of Grace with our everlasting salvation in the Kingdom of glory for evermore The twenty one Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have made profession of your knowledge concerning the Grace of Faith Now what is you knowledge concerning the Third Grace the Grace of Evangelical Repentance to be examined renewed and enlivened of every Communicant men and women before the approach to the Lords Table What light have we from Christ concerning this Grace Ans By what I have learned from Christ I conceive Evangelical Repentance Renovation Regeneration new Creation and Conversion unto God is a Grace of God reconciled to us in Christ by which a poor soul enlightned by the Spirits working in or by the Word of God First With a true knowledge sight Rom. 3.20 and 7.7 Luke 15.17 and sence of sin original and actual Secondly Of the misery and bondage under sin Thirdly Terrour of the wrath of God due to sin Fourthly With tidings of Christ a Saviour Acts 5.31 Exalted to give Repentance and Remission of sin Iere. 31.18 Acts 2.36 37. Gen. 4.13 1 Sam. 31.4 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.4 5. Acts 2.37 38. and 16.28 29 30. Iere. 31.19 First Is troubled stinged pricked and wounded in conscience sorrowful broken-hearted and humbled under Gods hand bemoaning himself for sin as Ephraim of old Secondly Brought to a kinde of despair though not final or a despair of Gods mercy in Christ as Cain Saul Achitophel and Judas yet with a despair of themselves or of any power in themselves to save themselves
in my soul 5. I long more then ever to meet with Christ in the Sacrament to feed spiritually on Christ there to strengthen the life of grace in me 6. I long more and more to keep a secret acquaintance with God in secret meditation and prayer that I may suck the breasts of the promises and draw water of life out of the wells of salvation and so strengthen the life of grace in my soul 7. In brief I now love Christ more and more in himself and prize Christs righteousnesse and his presence with me and in me above all the world as Phil. 3.7 8. 8. I love Christ more and more in his Word in all sweet and sacred truths more and more revealed to my soul 9. I love Christ in all his Saints 1 Ioh. 3.14 Christs brethren and mine 10. And daily I wait on Christ to grow in grace in faith in holinesse 2 Pet. 3. â— 1.8 9. in every good work of grace adding to faith vertue and so grace to grace that I may more and more be assured of Gods love to me And 1. Have my calling and Election be made more sure to my soul And 20 10. 2. That I may submit to my Fathers will with content Luk. 22.41 42. till he bring me to glory and all this not by any strength or power of my own but by the strength and living vertue of Christ and Christs spirit dwelling in me and this assureth me that I have from Christ the life of grace in my soul and may safely come with comfort to meet Christ at the Lords Table who loved me and gave himself for me Quest These and such like are comfortable evidence of the life of grace But tell me do you not still finde corruptions in you and fears and cares and sorrows for sins as you felt before Ans I do acknowledge that I finde 1. Failings in my best performances but presse forwards towards perfection 2. I sometimes meet with a messenger of Satan sent to buffet me And Phil. 3.13 14. 2 Cor. 12.7 Rom. 7.23 24. 3. I finde a law in my members sometimes rebelling against the law of my minde and seeeking at least to take me captive to the Law of sin But yet with a great deal of difference from what was before I came to see Christ more clearly For first Though Satans messengers be sent to buffet me yet I know the grace of God in Christ is sufficient for me and his strength shall be made manifest in my weaknesse 2 Cor. 12.9 10. And although rebels within me rise up against me and against the lâ—fe of grace in my soul Rom. 7.23 24. yet I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord. Secondly And for my fears and cares and sorrow for sin now I fear not Hell and Damnation as before I did fear because I know there is no condemnation to me that am in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 2. endeavouring by the strength of Christ to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit as Rom. 8.1 And the law and power of the spirit of life which is in Christ hath in comfortable manner made me free from the law and power of sin and death as Rom. 8.1 2. So that as Rom. 7.12 14 22. it is not I but sin that dwelleth in me Thirdly I do indeed feel the least sin as a mote in my eye very troublesome and I finde my heart smitten within me for it yet I fear sin and fear to offend my God by sin not with a servile slavish sin as before but with a son like fear of offending so good a God and my so gracious a Father in Iesus Christ as David 1 Sam. 24.5 Romans 8.15 and 6.1 Fourthly I do grieve and sorrow for my sins and failings but yet as with a childe-like sorrow that I have any way or at any time grieved the spirit of my Father who hath sealed me to the day of Redemption in Iesus Christ my Saviour Eph. 4.30 Fifthly But still with this confidence that he which hath begun a good work in me will perfect it to the day of Christ Phil. 1.6 Sixthly So that although my enemies Spiritual or Temporal be never so many and the Tribulations never so great yet they cannot separate me from the love of Christ but when I have finished my course and kept the saith he will give to me the crown of Righteousnesse and preserve me assuredly to his heavenly Kingdom Romans 8.35 c. 2 Timothy 4.8 18. Quest 16. You have witnessed a good confession and given comfortable evidence of the life of grace in your soul and I believe the Lord Christ will bid you welcom to his Table But do you believe that the Lord doth work in the same manner with every Christian that is and may be admitted to this feast of the Lord What light hath Christ revealed to you in this particular Ans No verily I do not believe that the Lord is pleased to work in all alike I have heard a good woman say That she was born of Parents very ignorant who had little shew of Religion in them nor did they bring her up in a Religious way living then in a place of much ignorance and prophanenesse having no prayer in Family nor repeating of Sermons not so much as an out-form of Religion and the first time that ever she began to consider her wayes and the misery of her natural condition Exod. 9â— 16 c. Psa 29 8 Acts 24.25 Eph. 5.14 it pleased God to strike her with fear and terror of the shaking voyce of Thunder which made her tremble and being awakened to think of a God and to joyn her self to a few who went out to hear Gods word by which means she became a wonder to prophane people but in the end was converted and found Christ to be the comfort of her soul and many fears and cares was she pressed with in the travel of the new birth Gal. 4.19 before Christ was formed in her and she found Christ and his sweetnesse of peace to her comfort yea since that though the Lord hath several wayes tryed her faith and patience by conversion and affliction to teach her to see the emptinesse of the creature and the fulnesse of God reconciled to her in Christ yet she liveth by faith in God who hath promised never to fail her Heb. 13.5 nor forsake his sons and daughters in Christ who depend upon him in the Lord Iesus Quest 17. Have you known any other drawn by such like means to seek out after God in Christ 2 Chron. 33.12 c. Ans 1. Some have been drawn by outward losses and miseries as Manasses was by great affliction to consider of their wayes and repent of their sins so that he might say as one did I had perished unlesse I had perished if I had not lost my estate in all outward appearance I had lost my soul 2. I have have
meditation of this great and inestimable love of God in Christ and most free love of Christ to my soul God the Father not onely loving me to give Christ his Son for me and the Lord Christ so loving me as to give himself for me and to give the Gospel of grace to manifest this his invaluable love but also to give the Sacraments and this Sacrament of the Lords Supper in particular to seal this wonderful surpassing love of God in Christ to my soul manifested in his death and passion for me and God the holy Ghost to witnesse this to me and in this meditation to be perswaded and assured by the strength of Christs spirit that I have a most sure right title and interest to Christ to his Death Passion Resurrection and Ascention and Intercession and to all the fruits and benefits of all these to my soul and that all these are most surely and firmly sealed and confirmed to me in this Sacrament to the glorious strengthning of my faith and rejoycing of my soul in Christ Iesus having loved me and given himself for me Gal. 2.20 Quest 27. What is the third act orr operation of the soul in which by the power of Christs spirit you may improve this Sacramental obsignation to your self to your joy and comfort Ans A spiritual and faithful application First of this blessed Sacrament as appointed and instituted by Christ as a seal to confirm my faith and an application of Christ and his glorious benefits sealed and assured to my soul and sealed to all Saints who have a holy union and communion with me in this Sacrament and a communion in and with Christ held forth and communicated in this Ordinance Reason For the bread broken is the communion of the body of Christ and the cup which is blessed is the communion of the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 17. and we that are many are one bread and one body for we are all partaker of that one bread and so I have both union and communion with Christ and with the Saints both sealed to me in this Sacrament Simile For as a Princes Broad or commonseal annexed to an Evidence confirmeth or sealeth up to the party to whom the Deed or Evidence is made the truth of all those Promises and Covenants which are contained in that Deed or Evidence or Letters or Patents So this Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ being as it were great Broad Seal of the Prince of Heaven and Earth Christ Iesus it sealeth to my soul all the promises and covenants in that great Charter the Covenant of Grace for my confirmation and establishment in Christ and Christs righteousnesse received by faith As circumcision of old Simile and Baptism in the time since Christs Ascention seals my entrance into Christ and clothing upon with Christ and his righteousnesse and ingrafting into Christ for nourishing vertue to life eternal So that I may still conclude with the Apostle certainly Christ loved me and gave himself for me Romans 4.11 Isaiah 61.10 Galathians 3.27 1 Peter 1.4 5. Galathians 2.20 The twenty ninth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question YOu have made profession of your faith and knowledge of all those present acting concomitant graces and gracious acts and operations of your soul which are to be exercised at the Lords Table in every Sacramental act and object of your senses corporal and spiritual to your refreshing and strengthning in the Lord Jesus by vertue from Christ the heavenly husband of your soul Now what light from Christ have you for those subsequent graces or gracious following acts or operations of soul or body in the inner man which are to be exercised and acted by you after the partaking of Christ in this holy Ordinance that a Christian may walk comfortably with Christ in the whole course of his or her life And what light have you received from Christ to lead you to Christ in this respect Ans There are two kindes of graces or gracious acts some to be put in practise presently and immediatly before we depart from the Ordinance and some after in the whole course of our lives and callings general and special Quest 2. What are those to be acted and put in execution in and upon the act of receiving before you depart from this holy Sacrament in which you may wait on Christ for a sweet and full assurance of Christs love unto you and of all those rich and invaluable benefits which the Lord Christ doth communicate and seal to your soul at the Lords Table Ans The first is a spiritual repletion Sacramental satisfaction glorious rest and full contentment in this rich Banquet at the Lords Table not in the action alone as resting in the thing done but having now fully fed on Christ Psal 63.1 c. and being satisfed with Christs sweetnesse as with marrow and fatnesse Quest 3. How are your affections now bent towards Christ Ans I desire now heavenly dainties and resolve by the power of Christ to feed no more at the Table of Devils upon the prodigals husks of sinful profits and pleasures Hos 14.8 Luke 15.16 221 30. 1 Cor 10. Ier. 50.4 5. Psa 65.4 but to keep my Covenant with my God in Christ for ever and to meet Christ upon all opportunities in his Ordinances that I may feed on Christ often at his Table of grace till I come to feast with him at his Table of glory Quest 4. In what manner or how may you wait on Christ in those three acts of your soul and inward man viz. 1. Serious observation 2. Divine meditation And 3. Faithful application for improvement of this rest satisfaction and spiritual content in this heavenly refreshing by Christ at the Lords Table What light from Christ for this duty 1 Pet. 2.3 Ans First for observation I may mark diligently divers particulars First what refreshings I finde in the ordinance Ioh. 13. Secondly what sign of Christ and his love to my soul in dying for my sins Thirdly how my affections are wrought upon with grief and godly sorrow in my soul 1. That my sins have crucified Christ 2. That I have been so unthankful and so often forgetful of this inestimable love to me Fourthly how I am cheered up with a joyful assurance that yet God accepteth me in Christ and that the pardon of my sins is now sealed to my soul in this Sacrament Quest 5. What assurance is gained from these Ans That Christ will make me strong in time to come 1. To resist all sin in thought word nnd deed And 2. More able to honour God in all estates and conditions 3. And more enlivened to delight in Christs presence of grace then ever before Cant. 5. Quest 6. What further grace way be observed Ans That in Christ I am more hungry after the Word of God 4. More longing to feast wit Christ in this Sacrament Acts 14.22 Luk.
Christ by faith O my soul and rightly endeavour to declare thy thankfulnes to God in Christ again and shew forth my thankfulness to my Lord Jesus in daily remembring of him until he translate thee to eternal glory Quest 23. What are the subsequent graces to be acted and duties to be exercised and practised in manifestation of your thankfulnesse to your God in Christ all the dayes of your life And what light from Christ have you received for direction herein Gal. 2. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 14 .. Mat. 22.37 .. Gal. 5. 13 14. Eph. 4.1 c. Ans There is one root-grace flowing into my soul from Christ and Christs wonderful love to me Christ loving me and giving himself for me And this is the grace of love that love of Christ with a holy gracious power as a precious Loadstone doth draw my soul to my God in Christ and sweetly constrain me to love Christ again who loved me first moving me powerfully to live henceforth not to my self but to him that dyed for me and role again and the fruits of this love are to be made evident by the power of Christ dwelling in me 1. Towards God the Father in Christ 2. Towards my self in true charity 3. Towards my Neighbour in love and unity all the dayes of my life all comprehended in one Grace Love And all this as fulfilling the Law of Christ Gal. 6.1 2. Iohn 13.34 25. and 15. 12 c. and because I finde God hath loved me first in the Lord Iesus John 4.19 Quest 24. What is the fruit that spring from this root Grace of your Christian Walking the free love of God to you in Christ assured by the spirit and faith and the reflex of that love as the eccho of love in your souls answering love again Ans The manifestation of my thankfulnesse or thankful remembrance of Christ of Christ Ioh. 4.9 c. love held forth to me in this Sacrament by a conltant and continued acting and exerciting of that grace of love wrought in me by the power of Christs spirit in my soul 1. Towards God my Father Iohn 20.17 2. Towards my self as to a childe of God in Christ Luke 10.17 3. Towards my Neighbour and especially towards the Houshold of saith the Church and Saints of the most High God and my fellow-members in Christ Iesus Gal. 6.10 Quest 25. Wherein ought you to declare your thankfulnesse and exercise your love towards God and your Neighbour in Christ Ans In yielding obedience to the will of God as my Father in Christ Iohn 5.39 6.68 First in believing whatsoever truth the Lord my God holdeth forth to be believed in the Scriptures Secondly Iohn 14.21 in doing or suffering whatsoever is by the will and pleasure of God my Father to be done or suffered by me according to his will Thirdly in praying to or praising God all the dayes of my life Quest 26. What light from Christ or what directory or rule is there of your faith or of tbose truths in which you are to declare in thankfulnesse your love and duty to God your Father by believing Ans The holy Scripture or whole Word of God recorded in Gods Book Ioh. 5.32 2 Pet. 1.19 20. Gen. 3.15 22. Isa 53. Ioh. 3.16 the holy Bible is my light but that which is especially for my comfort is the promises of the Gospel or Covenant of grace held forth unto me in the Old and New Testament by the Lord himself or by men of God as they were inspired by the holy Ghost Quest 27. What brief or sum is there to be believed of that which is taught at large as the Doctrine of faith in the holy Scriptures Ans Those twelve Articles in that symbole of faith or brief sum commonly called the Apostles Creed explained further in those other ancient Creeds received in the Church of Christ and known by the Names of Nicene Creed and Athanasius Creed Quest 28. Which call you the Apostles Creed Ans That which begins thus I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Son our Lord c. as is expressed at large in my lesser Catechism Quest 29. Which call you the Nicene Creed Ans That Creed which beginneth as followeth I believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and of all shings visible and invisible and in one Lord Iesus Christ the onely begotten Son of God begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made c. Quest 30. Which call you Athanasius Creed Ans That Creed which begins and follows thus Whosoever will be saved before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholike Faith Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undâ—filed without doubt he shall perish everlastingly And the Catholike Faith is this That we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity Neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance For there is one Person of the Father another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is one The glory equal the Majesty co-eternal c. as is also Printed at large in my lesser Catechism Quest 31. But are these Creeds the ground or rule of Faith 2 Pet. 1.19 2. Iohn 5.39 Ans The holy Scripture is the most proper ground of Faith and most perfect rule for judging all Controversies But these Creeds as they are grounded on the Scriptures and holy Wod of God are and may be an objâ—ct and directory of our faith and so they have been and are yet received in the Church of Christ and are very profitable for our help and furtherance in the knowledge and remembrance of the Doctrine of Faith Iohn 5.39 Romans 15.4 2 Timothy 3.15 16 17. 2 Peter 2.19 20. The thirtieth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question VVHat directory or rule is there of your thankfulnesse and declaration thereof in doing or suffering the will of God as your God and loving Father in Iesus Christ What light from Christ for instruction in our Christian walking with God all our life long Deut. 4.1 c 6.1 c. Psa 119.105 Isa 8.20 Matthew 5 6 7 c. Ans The will and command of God my God and Father held forth to his Church and to me in the Decalogue or ten Commandments and the Explication and meaning of them by Moses and the Prophets in the Old Testament and by Christ and his Apostles in the New Testament as is evident by many places of Scripture in the Book of God Quest 2. What light is there from Christ Or what is that directory or rule of the Decalogue or ten Commandments held forth as a light to older our obedience and thankfulnesse is unto God as to our Father who hath brought us out of the
A LIGHT FROM CHRIST Leading unto Christ by the Star of his Word OR The rich Jewel of Christian DIVINITY Practically explained in the Principles enlightning the Children of God how to meet Christ in his Ordinances and by strength from Christ to walk comfortably with Christ in the whole course of their Lives Divers chief Controversies of the times moderated Many Cases of Conscience resolved and in particular How Men and Women may know whether they have life of grace and be Gods Children or not Profitable for Parents to instruct their Families By way of Catechism or Dialogue not to Answer verbatim or by wrote as yong Children but each one according to his own sence and understanding of the QUESTION By IMMANUEL BOURN Of Ashover in the County of Derby now Preacher of the Gospel to the Congregation in Sepulchres C. L. London Printed for John Wright at the Kings head in the Old-Baily 1646. I Have perused this large Catechism intituled A Light from Christ leading unto Christ and finding it to be Orthodox Pious and Profitable I allow it to be Printed and Published JOHN DOVVNAME TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE Lords and Commons Assembled in the High and Honorable Court of this ever Memorable PARLIAMENT Right Honorable IT is the Observation of that Kingly Preacher Eccl. 11.7 Wise Solomon the Great Truly the Light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the Sun but certainly much more pleasant and precious is the light of the Lord Jesus Christ that most glorious Sun of Righteousnesse Mal. 4.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who doth arise to those that fear Jehovahs Name with healing in his wings Ioh. 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who was and is that Light that true Light that lightneth every man that cometh into the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Light of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 illuxit he hath shined forth that shining forth or enlightning Light which communicateth true Light to every one who hath been is or shall be truly enlightned with the light of Nature Grace or Glory for even that natural light of the understanding and heavenly wisdom which our first Parents had with the Image of God in Paradise before their fall Gen. 1.27 it was from God the Father of Lights Iam. 1.17 in and by the Eternal Son of God that increated Light Ioh. 10.31 Phil. 2.7 co-equal with the Father and by him together with the Father and the blessed Spirit was all other light as all things else created Ioh. 1.3 Gen. 1.3 for without him was nothing made that was made Outward light and inward they are both from the true Light Col. 2 3. in whom are hid all the Treasures of the Wisdom and knowledge of God and from that true Light and his fulnesse Ioh. 1.16 we all receive the light of whatsoever Grace we have whether of Gods Free grace and love in Christ of the grace of knowledge Faith or of Obedience to God or men to Princes Magistrates or Governours Ps 82 6. Ioh. 10.34 35. who are under God and as Gods upon Earth who Rule and govern to Judge Righteous and true Judgement for the Lord 2 Chron. 19.5 6. which if they do 2 Sam. 23.4 they shall be as the light of the Morning when the Sun ariseth as a Morning without Clouds as the tender grasse springing out of the Earth by clear shining after Rain But if they Judge unjustly as the great God sets them up 1 Sam. 2.6 c. Dan. 4.33 c. 5.30 so he pulls them down at his pleasure witnesse the Babylonian Persian Graecian and other Mighty Emperours Empires States and Kingdoms of the world And Right Honorable and Christian Senators as true light especially the light of Christ is excellent sweet pleasant and profitable directing the mindes of men in the Religious wayes of Truth and right obedience to the just and lawful commands of all Superiors So is darknesse and blinde ignorance as odious base and hurtful not only to men in particular but to Kingdoms and Nations in general The Pope and Papacy politickly made Ignorance the Mother of Devotion D. Aug. in Ps 33. Erat in illis regnum ignorantiae id est regnum Erroris but learned Augustine calleth it the Mother not of Devotion but of Error and that Kingdom where Ignorance raigneth the Kingdom of Error ignorance blindly leading men to blinde Obedience many times to the ruine of themselves and others The sad evidences of this deplorable ignorance I my self have found in not a few of that Congregation and County where above twenty years I lived a Preacher of the Gospel a presser and Practizer of this Duty of Catechizing and where I met such ignorance 1 Cor. 5.1 as is not fit to be named amongst Christians One affirming blindely upon Examination That none had died for him nor should any die for him he would stand between God and himself yet after when I told him that Christ died for him he wept for joy Another That the Sun shining in the Firmament was the Son of God that died for him A third averring There was no hell and that her soul should go to Heaven like a white Dove although she did not know the way to Heaven other hoped to be saved by our Lady And multitudes ignorant of the knowledge and light of Christ in any competent measure to meet Christ in the Sacrament or to walk comfortably with Christ in their lives or indeed necessary to salvation And the woful effects of this blinde Popish ignorance I my self have found by sorrowful experience also and that almost in the beginning of our English Troubles this lamentable Civil War The Kings Majesty no sooner set up His Royal Standard at Nottingham within twenty miles of my Habitation but divers of these blinde ignorant prophane and Popishly affected of the baser sort I speak nothing of the Superiours they prepare for War make haste towards the Standard and presently the ROUND-HEADS a name they quickly learned were threatned with Plundring Fire and Sword my self with divers other well-affected to Religion the Kings Majesty Parliament and Kingdom were constrained to flie our houses from whence ever since I have lived a banished man these having not yet been for any space of time either safe or comfortable abiding And if was not long after that but by such like Popish ignorant Souldiers and in particular by a Commander in the Earl of New-castles Army a Papist since dead I was Plundred not only of my Goods and Study of Books above twenty years in gathering and my house Barbarously torn in pieces spoiled standing to this day a spectacle to witnesse truth to the shame of blinde ignorant prophane and Popish malice of Malignant Enemies I am sure to my losse of more Hundreds of pounds then for present I am willing to glory in But which was worse Heb. 10.34 my Manuscripts near
Exo. 12.18 Rom. 2.28 29. and as uncircumcised of old so those unregenerate and impenitent are not fit to come to the Lords Table Quest 5. What Reason can be given why Christian love and charity ought to be in such as come to this Saceament Ans Because where Christian love is not in a Communicant he cometh together with Saints not for the better but for the worse 1 Cor. ii 17 c. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Mat. 5.23 24. Mat. 22.12 13. forgetting the love of Christ to poor sinners sealed in the Sacrament which should move him to love his brother to do good to his poor brother and seek reconciliation if he be offended without which neither person nor sacrifice is accepted as coming without the Wedding garment Quest 6. What knowledge of God is requisite comfortably to meet Christ in this holy Ordinance Ans A true knowledge of God 1. In his excellent nature 2. In his persons 3. In his Word And 4. in his works And especially in the great work of mans Salvation Quest 7. What is to be known of God concerning his excellent nature Ans First what God is in his essence and Divine being And secondly what he is in his essentiall properties or Divine attributes declaring his essence and in some measure cōmunicable to his people Quest 8. What is God in his essence and Divine being Ans * Ioh. 4.24 Exo. 3.14 Isa 44.6 Isa 46.9.10 c. Act. 11.25 26. Rom. 11.36 Act. 17.28 1 Cor. 8.5 6. God is one spirituall self-living-essence having life and being of himself from all eternity and giving life and being to all creatures Quest 9. What is God in his essentiall properties Deu. 6.4 Mar. 12.30 Rom. 11.35 Deut. 33.27 Psa 147.5 Ier. 10.10 Iob 11.7 8 9. Ier. 23.23 24. Iob 22 3. Gen. 17.1 Rev. 19.6 Exo. 34.5 6. 1 Tim. 1.17 Mat. 19.17 1 Tim. 6.16 Mal. 3.6 or Divine Attributes Ans He is most single of himself one eternall infinite omnipresent incomprehensible omnipotent self-immortall most wise God most mercifull gracious and most holy just true perfect pure and powerfull yea All-sufficient self-sufficient and Independent originally and unchangeably good and blessed for ever Quest 10. How are the properties or Divine Attributes distinguished Ans They are distinguished into two sorts of Attributes First such as are incommunicable to the creature Secondly such as in some manner and degree are communicable and communicated to Angels and men Quest 11. What are those Attributes which are incommunicable Ans They are divers but we may chiefly take notice of these First The simplicity or singlenesse of God Exo. 3.14 Rom. 11.33 c. 1 Cor. 8.6 being single and a most pure essence without all manner of composition most abolute of and in himself for ever And this no creature is Quest 12. What is a second Ans A second is the infinitenesse of God 1. In respect of eternity Deut. 33.27 Col. 1.17 Rev. 1.8 1 Kings 8.27 Ier. 23.23 24. Iob 11.7 8 9. Acts 17.24 c. he is without beginning or end and so is no creature 2. In respect of incomprehensiblenes 1. No place can contain God yet he is omnipresent 2. No understanding of any creature can comprehend him yet he is not far from every one of us And so is no Creature 3. In respect of power God is omnipotent of himself so is no Creature Rev. 19.6 psa 135.6 but the Lord hath and can do whatsoever he will 4. In respect of knowledge Psa 139.2 3 c. Acts 15.18 Psa 147.5 Heb. 4.13 Mal. 3.6 Isa 46.9 10. 1 Tim. 6.15 16. Gen. 17. i. Iob 35.6 7 8. he is omniscient he knoweth all things so doth no Creature in the world Quest 13. What is a third Attribute Ans In a word the Lord is self-immortall and unchangeable in and of his own nature and so is no Creature in the world Quest 14. What is a fourth Property incommunicable Ans The Lord Jehovah is All-sufficient self-sufficient blessed in himself for ever Quest 15. What are those Attributes of God which are communicable and in part communicated to Angels and to men especially to his Sons and Daughters in Christ Ioh. 5.26 Exod. 34 5 6 7. Gen. 2.7 Acts 17.28 Deut. 31.39 1 Tim. 1.17 2 Chron. 1.10 c. Iudg. 16.3 Mat. 5.1 2 3 c Ans Amongst other these The life wisdom strength will goodnesse justice mercy truth and blessednesse for ever All these are absolutely fully and most perfectly in God as of himself and communicated to the creature in measure for Gods glory and the good of his children As wisdom was communicated to Solomon and strength to Sampson So blessednesse and other Divine Properties to Gods Children Quest 16. Are there not some speciall Properties peculiar to the persons in this Divine essence Ans Yes It is the speciall Property of God the Father to beget the Son And the speciall Property of God the Son Ioh. 1.18 3.18 15.26 Gal. 4.6 to be begotten of the Father And the speciall Property of God the holy Ghost to proceed both from the Father and the Son Quest 17. How many Persons are there in this Godhead Ans Three Persons and yet but one God Gen. 1.1.26 1 Sam. 2.2.3 Psal 33.6 Isa 6.3 63.9 10. Mat. 3.16.17 Mat. 28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 Rom. 9.5 Acts 5.3 4. Three one Quest 18. Which is the first Person Gal. 1. i. Eph. 1.3 Isa 43.10 c. Psal 2.7 Ans God the Father of himself from all Eternity begetting the Son Quest 19. Which is the second Person Ans God the Son from all Eternity begotten of the Father Ioh. 1.14 Heb. 1.1 2 3. Ioh. 10.28 c. being the brightnesse of his glory the expresse Image of his Person and God equall blessed for ever Quest 20. Which is the third Person Ans God the holy Spirit Act. 5.3 Heb. 9.14 1 Ioh. 5.7 God from all Eternity equall with the Father and the Son and proceeding from them both Quest 21. Which is the greatest or most Ancient of these three Persons Ans In these three Persons none is afore or after another 1 Ioh. 5.7 Ioh. 1.1.2 Ioh. 10.30 none is greater or lesse then another but all three Persons are co-eternall together and coequall a Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity to be glorified Quest 22. I conceive the Divinity of God the Father is evident by the testimonies and grounds before mentioned and will appear by further light also But what other ground is there to assure you of the Divinity of the Son of God Ans Besides the testimonies of Scripture alledged the Divine Properties attributed to the Son of God do plainly evidence the Divinity of the Son because they are such as can agree to none but to God himself Quest 23. What are these Properties thus manifesting the Son to be God Ans First the infinitenesse and Eternity of his nature Rev. 1.8.11 Heb. 7.3
Ioh. 8.58 Mat. 22.43 c. Prov. 8.22 to 30. he being the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the Ending the First and the Last yea without beginning of time or end of dayes before Abraham and David and all creatures whatsoever and therefore must needs be God Quest 24. What is a second Property witnessing the Divinity of the Son of God Mat. 28.20 Mat. 18.20 Isa 43.2 3. Exo. 3.2 Dan. 3.25 Rev. 2.1 Ans Omnipresency or Christ his being every where present with his Church in generall to the end of the world And wheresoever but two or three are gathered together his Name yea in all times of triall for the good of his Church and Children Christ is present and so he must needs be God Quest 25. What is a third Property Ans Christ his Omnisciency Iohn 2.24 25. Mark 2.7 8. Rev. 2.23 or his knowing all things the discerning the very thoughts and intentions of the heart and therefore he must needs be God Quest 26. What is a fourth Property Ans Christ his Omnipotency and Almighty power Ioh. 5.19 20 c. Isa 9.6 he can do whatsoever he pleaseth whatsoever the Father doth the Son doth and so he must necessarily be God Quest 27. What other evidence is there of the Divinity of Christ the Son of God Ans The works of the Son of God First the great work of Creation Gen. 1.1 2 7. Ioh. 1.1 2. Ioh. 14.11 Col. 1.15 16 17. God the Son creating the world together with the Father and the holy Ghost That Elohim or those strong ones created heaven and earth and made man Secondly the great work of preservation Heb. 1.2 3. upholding all things by the word of his Almighty power Quest 28. Have you any more grounds to evidence the Deity of the Son of God Ioh. 1.14 who took our nature upon him Ans I might give more Ioh. 3.16 Ioh. 14.1 Lev. 17.5 Acts 7. Mat. 28.21 I will name but one and this is the Divine worship and service to be given and due to the Son of God as to God the Father as to believe in him to pray to him to be Baptized in his Name and to yield obedience unto him Phil. 2.10 Ioh. 10.30 as to our Lord God and King for ever And from all these we may conclude that the Son of God is God and one with the Father Quest 29. Certainly these grounds do make it evident that the Son of God who is equall with God took our nature upon him 1 Ioh. 5.20 to be our Saviour yea truly God and eternall l fe But what profit is the knowledge of this to a poor soul Ans It is a comfort and joy unspeakable yea Eternall life to know and believe the Son of God to be God as well as man Ioh. 17.3 20.28 Isa 63.1 2. 2 Tim. 4 17 18. and my Lord and my God able and mighty to save his Church and children from all their enemies and to preserve me and them to his everlasting Kingdom Quest 30 You have evidenced fully the Deity of the Son of God Have you any such like grounds to evidence the Deity of the third Person in Trinity the holy Spirit of God Acts 5.3 4. Gen. 1.1 2 Psa 139.7 8 c. 1 Cor. 2.10 Ans Yes verely If we consider the Name of God ascribed in Scripture to the holy Ghost that the holy Spirit moved in the great work of Creation and is every where present and an All-searching and omnipotent spirit Psa 33.7 whose works are mighty and in whose Name we are all Baptized Mat. 28.19 as well as in the Name of God the Father and of God the Son These and more they may satisfie the believing soul that the blessed spirit is God and God equall with the Father and the Son to be blessed and glorified for ever Quest 31. What comfort can this be to the Saints Ans Iohn 14.16 17 18 26. Iohn 15.26 What greater comfort then that our Teacher Counsellor and Comforter is God able to advise us in our greatest straits and to give us consolation in saddest times of darknesse that he is our helper in our prayers every where present with us yea in the Saints Rom. 8.11 16 20. for their joy is ready to witnesse with our spirits that we are the Children of this blessed Trinity God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost blessed for ever The third Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu say God is a Spirit or Spirituall substance What is a Spirit or Spirituall substance Gen. 2.7 Luk. 24.39 40. Prov. 20.27 Heb. 12.9 Iob. 11.7 8 9. Ans A Spirit is an invisible living or most pure substance more pure then the clear light or most pure Air or wind with life and motion not to be seen or felt with humane senses as the Air or wind or light or a body with flesh bones is yea a Divine spark candle or lamp intelligent and indued with wonderfull excellencies But God is the Father of Spirits whose infinite excellency cannot by searching be found out to perfection Quest 2. Do you believe that there is such a God Ans Yes For there is no Nation in the world but hath some way confessed that there is a God though multitudes do not know the true God And besides not only Gods word and works and spirit but the very consciences of men will witnesse that there is such a God Gen. 31.35 Jonah 1.5.6 Josh 24.15 Acts 11.13 14 c. 1 Kings 11.33 Acts 17.23 24. Gen. 1.1 2. and 14.19 20. Josh 1.1 2 3 4 5. Joh. 1.1 Gen 3.10 11 Dan 5.5 6. Acts 24.25 Quest 3. How doth it appear that there are such essentiall Properties and Divine Attributes in this great God Or that God is such a God Ans By an evident demonstration of all these Ps 19.1 Prov. 8.2 12 15. Rom. 1.19 20. held forth unto us in the word and works of God Quest 4. Wherein do these shine forth in Gods word and works Ans Iob 11.7 8 9. 26.6 7 8 c. Gen. 1.31 Rom. 1.19 20. 11.33 By the surpassing excellency of wisdom beauty power and infinite perfection of God which is to be seen in Gods word and works and firstly and fountainly in God himself Quest 5. What light is there held forth in the works and word of God to manifest this truth that there is a God and such a God of such infinite wisdom power and perfections Ans There is a threefold light First Of nature Secondly Of Grace Thirdly Of glory 1 Cor. 13.9 10. 1 Iob. 3.2 by which the excellency of this God is now in part and shall be more fully manifested to the children of God in glory Quest 6. Wherein doth the light of nature shine forth declaring this God Ans In the book of nature or of the works of God Quest 7. In what particular doth
to himself infallibility of Judgement and certainty of power to Interpret Scripture Nor speaking in the breast of a private man who can boast of the Spirit and of strange Revelations sometimes contrary to the Scriptures But by the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures out of the Text and Context of Scriptures out of the Antecedents and Consequents and scope of the holy ghost searching Scriptures and comparing one place of Scripture with another Ioh. 5.39 waiting on Christ in prayer and use of other means before mentioned for a right understanding of the sense of the holy Ghost held forth in the sacred Scriptures for our instruction and comfort for the spirit is not given to guide men contrary but according to the holy Scripture Gal. 1.8 9. which are the voyce of the spirit of God for our good And whatsoever spirit speaketh contrary to the Scriptures Isa 8.20 cannot be the spirit of God Quest 21. What use then is to be made of the holy Scriptures Ans In all cases of doubt to search the Scriptures Ioh. 5.39 2 Pet. 1.19 20. and take heed to the spirit speaking in the Scriptures untill the daylight of truth dawn and day-star of truth arise in our souls to see truth from falshood and error The fifth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat are the works of God revealed in the Scriptures Or what ought a Christian to know out of the holy Scriptures concerning Gods works that he may come with more comfort to the Lords Table Ans Chiefly four 1. Gods Decree 2. His work of Creation And 3. His work of Providence here And 4. His work of glory in the world to come in the Kingdom of God in heaven Quest 2. What is the work of Gods Decree Ans It is Gods eternall counsell and the unchangable act of his most holy will by which as the only wise just holy eternall perfect powerfull and great God he hath set down with himself from all Eternity to do or suffer to be done whatsoever hath been is or shall be with the means and ends of all namely his own glory in the manifestation of his Iustice upon the wicked and of his mercy and goodnesse to his Church and Children Job 38.33 Ps 33.10 11. Prov. 19.24 Isa 43.13 and 46.10 and 44.24 25. Eph. 1.11 Amos 3.6 Matth. 11.25.26 Prov. 16.4 Psal 37.9 10 11. and 119.71 Acts 2.23 and 2.27 28. Quest 3. Wherein doth God manifest this work of his Eternall Decree Isa 46.9 10. Acts 14.16 c. Rom. 1.20 1 Tim. 5.21 Eph. 1.3 4 5. Rom. 8.19 30. Jude 4. Ans By holding forth to us in Scripture as his counsell of creating and ordering all things in generall so his works or acts of his election and reprobation both of Angels and Men in particular Quest 4. But if there be such a Decree of Election and Reprobation then what good is it for men to strive or wait in use of means after Faith holinesse or good works or to flye from sin and wickednesse since none but the Elect are saved and the Reprobate damned Mat. 20.1 2 c. 2 Tim. 2.24 c. 2 Thes 2 10 c. 2 Tim. 2.9 10. Col. 1.16 c. Luk. 13.24 c. Acts 24.14 c. 26.17 c. Rom. 9.22 c. 11.28 c. Iob 11.7 8 c. Rev. 15.3 4 5 6. Ans Great reason that every one should wait on Christ in the way and means of Salvation because no one can know in this life that he is reprobate though he be wicked since God may give him Faith and Repentance before he dye And whom God hath Elected to the end life Eternall he also hath Elected to the means the way of life Eternall namely the true knowledge of Christ true Faith Repentance and holinesse Gods Decrees and Acts being alwayes just although his wayes be sometimes like himself unsearchable Quest 5. What is the work of Gods Creation Ans That glorious act in and by which God made the World and all things therein Angels and Men and other Creatures in six dayes very good by his wisdom Almighty power and word for his own glory Gen. 1. and 2. Exod. 20.11 and 31 17. Heb. 11.23 2 Pet. 3.3 4 5. Gen 1.31 Eccles 7.29 1 Cor. 8.6 Jer. 10.12 Prov. 16.4 Quest 6. By which Person of the Trinity was the World Created Ans By the whole Trinity Gen. i. 12. Ioh. 1.12 1 Cor. 1.4 5. Col. 1.13 c. Elohim those three strong ones he created heaven and earth God the Father in and by God the Son and God the holy ghost Quest 7. What were the principall Creatures which God did make in those six dayes Ans First Angels And secondly Mankinde then in the loins of our first Parents Adam and Eve Quest 8. What kinde of Creatures are the Angels Ans The Angels are Created very good finite invisible intellectuall Col. i. i6 Psa 104. Heb. 1.7 Psa 138.1.2 c. Luk. 20.86 2 Thes 1.7 Luk. 2.13 24. immortall Spirits or Spirituall substances without bodies flesh or bones quick in motion ready and able to do the will of God speedily and powerfully to Gods glorie and the good of his Church Quest 9. What kinde of Creature did God make man Ans An admirable Creature both in respect of his soul and body Quest 10. How was his body made Ans His body was made of the dust of the earth as a little world Gen. 2.2.7 3.10 Eccles 12.7 with wonderfull workmanship in the curious frame thereof in all his inward parts Iob 4.19 Psal 139. Iob 10.9 10 11. Psal 8.4 5 c. with veins arteries sinews ligaments and bones all admirable for number nature and frame with glorious outward beauty comlinesse and Majesty as Lord over all inferior Creatures and all as by the finger and power of God himself Quest 11. How was the soul of man Created Ans A living immortall soul or breath of life Gen. 2.7 1 Cor. 15.45 Iob 27.3 33.4 Iâ—â— 139.13 c. Heb. 12.9 Zach. 12.1 was breathed into the created bodies of Adam and Eve by God the Father of Spirits and so man became a reasonable living substance at first by Creation and Mankinde hath since been continued by generation wonderfully and fearfully made God forming the never dying Spirit of man within him Quest 12. But what evidence is there that the soul of man is immortall and dyeth not with the body as the spirits or breath of Bruit Beasts Have not some men been of this opinion Ans It is true that prophane Atheisticall men and wanderers from the truth have been of that minde as those fools of whom we read in the Book of Wisdom who thought the breath in their nostrills was a smoke Wisd 2.1 2 3. and a little spark in the moving of their hearts which being extinguished the body should turn into ashes and the Spirit vanish into soft or moist Air.
Wisd 5.1 2 c. But one day they shall confesse their folly and that they have erred from the way of truth But whatsoever the Atheists or prophane or blinde men of the world think both Saints and wicked shall one day finde that the soul dieth not with the body but liveth for ever in endlesse joy or woe And there are many Arguments to prove the immortality of our souls Quest 13. What is a first Reason or ground to prove the souls immortality Ans Truly first if we consider even the naturall Reasons found out by naturall men and their opinions who knew not the Scriptures or the Gospel of Christ at least yet they evidence the immortality of the soul the judgement of Tully and others in every thing saith Cicero Lex naturae putanda est the consent of all Nations is to be accounted the Law of nature and a consent amongst all good men ought to be valued as much as a thousand demonstrations Vox Dei in natura for it is the very voyce of God in Nature as Learned Zanchius speaks Now no Nation that have had any learning or knowledge worth the name of knowledge Cicero Tusculan Quest Quis sapiens sinc spe immortali talis se offeret ad mortem quid enim imprudentius quam sine ullo â—remto se vita virtute proprie privare but witnesse the souls immortality Thus Plato Cicero Cato Vticensis Caesar and many Philosophers in their works and men dying for their Countreys good yea amongst the heathen Infidels I have read of those costly Funeralls amongst the Idolatrous Pagans in Meaco a chief City of Japon in which amongst other ceremonies they brandish a flaming Torch over their heads intimating the souls immortality as a flaming spark living for ever And certainly even these shall rise up in Iudgement at the last day against those who deny the immortality of the soul Quest 14. Thus I conceive a good Argument naturall or prophane men but what is a second Ans Even the very nature of the soul it self may witnesse the souls immortality in that the nature of the soul is to aspire after and to desire immortality to use all means to preserve a name to live for ever after them Gen. 41.4 2 Sam. 18.18 Solinus de miraâ—â—ulis â—â—â—â—â—â—i as the builders of Babell and Absolon by his Pillar and when Xerxes had fired the Asian Temple all but Diana's Erostratus set that on fire and being asked wherefore he did so he Answered that he might be remembred and his name be immortall or to that effect This may Argue an immortality in the soul that desireth and so longeth after immortality Quest 15. What is a third Reason to evidence this truth Ans Truly the very Acts of the soul themselves and operations of it not waxing old as the body doth which appears in men especially of temperate life Though the body be blinde the eye of the soul can see wonderfully Historia Tâ—ipartita we read of blinde men admirable in learning A youth not twenty years old learned the liberall Arts well skilled in the Scriptures Dictated severall Books to be written And if an old man had a yong mans eye he would see as perfectly as the best we see men in years who cannot see a letter in the Book yet with Spectacles can read plainly Isaac was dimme sighted Gen. 27.1.27 28 48.14 15. and Jacob was blinde before their deaths but the blessing they gave to their Children did witnesse their souls waxed not blinde with old age And even this may witnesse the immortality of the soul Quest 16. Here are sufficient Arguments of this nature Now what Evidence of the souls immortality may be drawn from the holy Scriptures Ans The Scriptures are full of Evidence to manifest this truth And first Divine testimonies the Preacher tells us That when the Body dieth and returneth to the dust the soul vanisheth not but returneth to God that gave it Eccles 12.7 And Christ himself witnesseth that the soul cannot be killed by all the Tyrants in the world Mat. 10.28 Mark 8.44 though they kill the body But God can cast both body and soul into Hell fire where the worm never dieth and the fire never goeth out so the soul tormented in Hell fire for evermore must needs be immortall and never dye Quest 17. Is there no other Argument in Scripture but bare testimonies Ans If there were no other the witnesse of the holy Spirit of truth is sufficient to witnesse this truth of the souls immortality but it is evident by other Arguments also for the Lord is said to be the God of Abraham Mat. 22.31 32 33. and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob not the God of the dead but of the living Now their bodies were dead many hundred years before Christ spake this therefore it must needs follow that the souls were alive and so they had not mortall but never dying and immortall souls Quest 18. This I conceive is a good Argument What is a second that you find in the holy Scriptures Ans The witnesse of Christ concerning the penitent Thief upon the Crosse Luk. 23.43 that he should be with him that day in Paradise Now this could not be in respect of his body for neither the body of the penitent nor the body of Christ were that day in Paradise for Christs body was taken down from the Crosse Mat. 27.60 and laid in a new Sepulchre and no doubt the body of the penitent also was buried And therefore it must needs be that Christ and the penitent should be and were in Paradise in their souls after the death of their bodies And hence it is evident that the soul is immortall and dieth not with the body as some wicked men dream Quest 19. Have you any more Arguments in Scripture to prove this Ans Yes there might be many more but I will note but a few and this you may take for another Even the practice of Christ at the time of death to commend in souls into the hands of God his heavenly Father Luk. 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit And that of blessed Stephen the holy Martyr of Christ commending his soul into the hands of Christ Acts 7.59 Lord Iesus receive my Spirit These confirm this truth of the immortality of the soul Quest 20. What is the next Argument which you observe in Scriptures Ans That fear and trembling and terror of conscience which falleth and hath fallen upon men for their sins against God or men and especially the fear of Iudgement to come as that of Belshazzer Dan. 5.1.5 when he saw the Hand writing upon the wall which made his kneeâ— to smite one against another and the thoughts of his heart to trouble him Acts 24.25 And that fear and trembling of Festus when he heard Paul to reason of Righteousnesse Temperance
and Iudgement to come These evidence plainly an immortality of the soul whatsoever foolish vain man can think or imagine to the contrary Quest 21. What is a last Reason you please to produce from Scripture to prove the souls immortality Ans The longings of the Saints to be dissolved and to be with Christ as blessed Paul did Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better This certainly the Apostle did intend of this being with Christ in his soul when his body was dead and therefore did verily believe the immortality of the soul and a hope of happinesse when this life is ended Rev. 14.13 1 Cor. 15.19 otherwise Gods people were of all men most miserable when as the holy Ghost pronounceth them blessed that die in the Lord Therefore without doubt our souls are immortall Quest 22. What use is to be made of all this Ans To teach all men to prize their immortall souls above all the world Mat. 16.26 For what is a man profited if he shall win the whole world and lose his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul And who will not most willingly wait upon Christ in the Gospel that he may be drawn in to receive Christ for the Eternall salvation of his soul The sixth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the work of Gods Providence as of the world in generall so of Angels and men in particular Ans That excellent government by which God doth wisely justly and graciously preserve rule and order the world provides for all and disposeth of all things therein even the afflictions of his own people for his own glory and the good of his Children Gen. 22.8.13 45.5 1 King 17.1 c. Iob 48.41 Psal 36.6 7. Prov. 15.3 Mat. 10.29 30 31. 1 Tim. 4.10 Rom. 8.28 Psal 119.67 71. Heb. 12.6 7 8. Quest 2. What is the work of Gods Providence concerning Angels or their service in respect to his Children or to the wicked Ps 104.4 Heb. 1.14 Ps 34.8 91.10 11. 2 Kings 6.16 17 19.35 Ans They are all ministring Spirits sent forth for their sakes that are heires of Salvation yea for preservation of Saints destruction of the wicked both in this life and at the day of Iudgement Luk. 24.23 Mat. 13.41 42. 25.30.31 Quest 3. What else is the office of the Elect Angels Ans They are glorious attendants on Gods Majesty in heaven Dan. 7.9 Luk. 2.13 14. Rev. 5.11 12. Psa 103.20 2 Pet 2.11 Isa 6.23 delightfully singing forth his praises and readily waiting at all times to do his pleasure Quest 4. How long have the Angels been provided to do God service Or when did God make them for his ministration Ans The certain day of their Creation is not expressed in the holy Scriptures Gen. 1.2 3. Iob 38.4 5 6 7. Mat. 24.30 But it is most likely they were Created the first day when the Heavens were made wherein they dwell the Angels being witnesses at the Creation of the earth and rejoycing at the excellency of Gods works at the beginning Quest 5. How many Angels did God make for this service in the beginning Ans The certain number is not revealed in Scriptures Dan. 7.10 Mat. 26.53 Heb. 12.22 but it is evidently held forth that God hath Thousand thousands of Angels and Ten thousand times ten thousand legions and miriades yea an innumerable company to attend upon his Majesty and do him service Quest 6. In what state and condition did God create the Angels Ans They were all very good Gen. 1.31 perfect in holinesse and righteousnesse Lu. 9.26 Iob 1.8 Act. 6.15 2 Cor. 11.14 Iob 39 7. Heb. 12.9 pure and glorious Spirits Angels of light after the likenesse of God their Father Quest 7. Are the Angels all alike in nature Ans In respect of their nature they are all alike holy Spirits Mar 4.11 Iude v. 9. Isa 6.2 Ezek. 10.1 2. Col. 1.16 c. Eph. 1.20 c. Mal. 3.1 2 3. but in respect of their offices objects and services about which they are conversant they are held forth in Scripture by divers names titles and degrees as Angels Archangels Seraphins Cherubims and the like but the head of all is Christ the Angel of the Covenant Quest 8. How is the Lord Christ the head of the Angels Hâ— 8.12.22 c. Iohn 1.1 2 3. 1 Cor. 8.6 Col. 1.16 c. Eph. 1.20 c. Phil. 2. 1 Tim. 5.21 Heb. 1.2 c. Ans Not as a head as Mediator of or by Redemption as he is to men for the Elect Angels never fell But as head or supreme by Creation Conservation and Confirmation in that state of happinesse and purity in which they were first Created Christ the Eternall Son of God upholding all things and being highly exâ—lted above all things as head of the Church and of all the Sons of God Angels and men Quest 9. Have the Angels any care of or respect unto men in particular Ans They are ready at Gods charge for preservation of Saints they desire their good and rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner and delightfully look into the mystery of mans Redemption being ready to oppose the Devils and all enemies and to carry the souls of Saints departing into Abrahams bosome that Paradise of heaven to be with Christ for ever Psal 91.11 12. Dan. 10.13 21. Zach. 1.12 13. Joh. 5.4 Luke 15.10 1 Pet. 1.10 c. Eph. 3.8 9 10. Zach. 3.1.2 Acts 12.7 8. Rev. 12.7 c. Gen. 32.2 Mat. 18.10 Luke 26.22 and 23.43 Quest 10. Are Angels to be worshipped or prayed unto Ans No by no means Iudg. 13.16 Zac. 13.7 Rev. 19.20 22.1 9. Heb. 1.4 c. It is a sacrifice and service which belongeth to God himself and to that God-man Christ the Angel of the Covenant who is Gods fellow and this worship is an honour which the Angels themselves have refused to accept Quest 11. Mat. 33.1 2 3. Gen. 19.1.20 31 11 c. 34.24 c. 48.15 16. But did not the Patriarchs bow and pray to Angels and Iacob in particular Gen. 48.16 Ans That was the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Christ the second Person in Trinity who appeared to Jacob and other Patriarchs Heb. 11.18 Isa 41.8 Col. 2.18 and so worship was and is due to him but not to any Created Angel whatsoever Quest 12. What profit is this knowledge of Angels to the Saints and Servants of God Gen. 31.2 2 King 6.16 19.35 Mat. 26.53 44. Psal 68.17 Ans Of great profit and comfort that we may know the greatnesse of Gods love and care for his Church that if all the wicked men and Devils in the world do conspire against Gods Children yet besides Gods own infinite power God hath created Armies of mighty Angels to preserve his Saints and to destroy the wicked
their Judgement at that Day Ans Yes 1 Thes 4.14 c. 1 Cor. 15.51 52 none excepted or priviledged but when the Trumpet shall sound and the voyce of the Archangel shall call the dead shall arise incorruptible the living shall be changed Rev. 20.12 and all shall appear before the Lord Christ to receive their sentence according to their works Quest 21. How shall the unbelievers and all wicked impenitent ones who have been enemies to the Lord Christ and to his wisdom holinesse and government stand affected at that Day Ans They shall tremble with horror Mat. 24.33 Rev. 1.7 2 Pet. 3.10 Rev. 3. 12 c. amazement and unspeakable sorrows when they shall see the Son of man the Lord Christ come in such glorious and terrible Majesty and though they cry to the Mountains to fall on them and to hide them yet they shall not escape the wrath of the then angry Lamb. Quest 22. How shall believers and the Saints of the most High be affected at the presence of Christ Luke 21.28 Act. 3.19 Mat. 1.21 Rev. 1.5 Ans They shall be affected with joy unspeakable at that day of Resurrection when they shall behold him to be their Iudge who is their Lord and Saviour and who hath washed them from all their sin in his own Blood Quest 23. What are or ought to be the affections of Saints towards Christ coming to Judgement Rom. 5.2 Heb. 9.28 1 Thes 1.10 Ans They should rejoyce in hope and look and wait daily for Christ who hath saved us from wrath to come Quest 24. Are not Gods Children then in a most happy condition above all other in the world being freely delivered from this damnable estate of the wicked and made Heirs of the grace of life Eternall Ans Yes verily the righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12.23 Isa 64.4 i Cor. 2.9 as it is written for the eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the hearts or men the things which God hath prepared for them that love him both in grace and glory Quest 25. By whom are we thus Redeemed from sin death and Eternall damnation and made partakers of life Eternall and to be Citizens in that Kingdom of glory Ans Only by Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of our Faith in whom God the Father is well pleased with us Acts 4.12 1 Pet. 1.11 19. Heb. 12. Matth. 17.5 The tenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have declared the knowledge of God and of our selves Now what should we know concerning Christ that we may draw near with comfort to this Sacrament of the Lords Supper And know more fully how the Lord doth govern us by Christ in Grace till he brings us to glory Ans We ought chiefly to know Christ First In his natures Ioh. 3.2 1 Cor. 2.2 Phil. 3.7 c. Divine and Humane Secondly In his Person and wonderfull union with our natures 1 Cor. 1.30 Iohn 1.16 2 Cor. 5 i9 c. Thirdly In his offices 1. Priest 2. Prophet 3. King exercised in Active and Passive obedience and application to both Fourthly In the glorious fruits and benefits which the Lord Iesus by his vertue and power as Mediator communicates to poor sinners for their everlasting Salvation Quest 2. How must Christ be known in respect of his nature Ans That he is perfect God and perfect Man both of a Divine and Humane nature that Immanuel God-man or God with us in our Humanity the Son of God and the Son of Man mighty to save full of grace and truth Isa 9.6 Joh. 1.14 Zach. 13.7 Isa 7.14 Joh. 3.16 Matth. 25.31 Isa 63.1 Mat. 1.21 Heb. 7.25 Iohn 1.16 Quest 3. How and when was Christ our Saviour God Ans He was God of God from all eternity not made but begotten of God the Father before all worlds and from everlasting very God of very God being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made the unchangeable wisdom and essentiall Word of God abiding God for ever Joh. 1.1.14 11. 1 Ioh. 5.20 Ioh. 10.30 1 Ioh. 5.7 Joh. 1.2 3. Col. 1.15 c. Prov. 8.12 c. Tit. 1.3 Iude 23. Rev. 19.13 1 Tim. 1.16 17. Rev. 1.11 1 Tim. 6.14 15 16. Heb. 1.8 9. Quest 4. You say Christ the Son of God in his Divine nature was God of God How I pray you do you understand that the Son of God was God of God was it or is it in respect of his Divine Essence or in respect of his Person and his filiation or Sonship only Ans This is a great mystery as is the mystery of his Incarnation But I humbly conceive and believe that in respect of the Person of the Son or of his Sonship he was God of God the Father Iohn 8.42 and is said to be God of God Light of light very God of very God But in respect of his Divine Essence he is Auto-Theos God of himself Iohn 10.30 and by himself from all Eternity and one Essence with God the Father blessed for ever Quest 5. But how can the Son of God be said to be begotten of God the Father since God the Father is a Spirituall Essence and can one Spirit be said to beget another or how might this be Ans This is a great mystery more fit for Faith to believe then Reason to apprehend nor do I know any similitude can truly and fully expresse this mystery but the learned endeavoring to give some light of it have held forth the eternall generation of the Son of God in these and the like expressions First as the minde of a man when it thinketh of and understands it self by reflection upon it self doth form and beget in it self and as it were of it self some Image or likenesse of it self though not perfect or distinctly of it self subsisting So God the Father when as he fully knoweth and beholdeth himself in his Eternity and infinity After an unutterable manner he did beget in himself the most perfect Image and expresse likenesse of himself distinctly subsisting and yet wonderfully co-essentiall with himself from all eternity and to this effect Christ is called the brightnesse of Gods glory Heb. 1.3 and the expresse Image of his person Col. 1.15 and of the invisible God and the like in holy Scriptures Secondly As a word is the Image of the minde Iohn 1.1 2. and begotten of the minde so the essentiall word is the Image of God the Father Thirdly not far different from this others expresse it thus That as a man looking his naturall face in a glasse doth beget his own image or likenesse which so long as he looketh continueth as his own expresse image though that is not subsisting by it self So God the Father beholding himself from all Eternity in the eternall glasse of his own most glorious Essence he did eternally or from all eternity beget his own Son his own
expresse image as noted before And this Person of the Son is a Person subsisting by himself and distinguished from God the Father and yet of one Essence with the Father and the holy Spirit blessed for ever But this great mystery is rather to be admired and glorified then by weak men to be searched into or comprehended And in like manner the procession of the holy Ghost the third Person in Trinity is admirable and unutterable by the Sons of men Quest 6. But if God the Son this second Person of the Trinity who took our nature upon him was begotten of the Father How can he be God from all Eternity equall with the Father was not God the Father before God the Son Ans In this Trinity none is afore or after another but all three Persons co-eternall together and co-equall as was noted before in the second Classis Question the twenty one Quest 7. But how may this in any measure be conceived Ans It is to be believed though our humane reason cannot comprehend it since the Scriptures hold forth sufficient grounds for it and certainly similitudes drawn from the creatures or things below cannot fully expresse it yet you may conceive some resemblance of a possibility of such a truth even from ordinary things daily in our sight As for Example when you light a Candle no sooner is the Candle lighted but at the same moment of time there is a glorious Candle there is light and there is heat or warmth and none of these is afore or after another but all equall in time together The like may be observed of the Sun in the Firmament and other things And so howsoever the Father in the priority of order of persons may be before the Son yet in order of time I believe they are co-eternall and co-equall for ever and before all time whatsoever Quest 8. What benefit or comfort is the knowledge of this to a poor believing soul Ans Great joy and cause of rejoycing that the Lord Christ who came down from heaven Isa 63.1 2. Heb. 7.25 was incarnate for us men and for our Salvation was and is God from all Eternity equall with the Father and so mighty to save all that come to God by him Quest 9. How and when was Christ our Lord and Saviour man Ans Although Christ was God equall with the Father from all Eternity yet for our sakes he humbled himself and took upon him our humane nature being conceived of the substance of the blessed virgin Mary by the power of the holy Ghost and born of her in fulnesse of time now about One thousand six hundred forty five years since Thus being that blessed seed of the woman promised and the Son of Man of a reasonable soul and humane flesh subsisting as well as the Son of God who did break the Serpents head and being made perfect he became the Author of Eternall salvation to all that obey him Phil. 2.6 c. Luke 1.31 32 c. Mat. 1.18 Luke 2.1 c. Gal. 4.4 c. Gen. 22.18 and 3.15 Psal 132.11 2 Sam. 23.5 Acts 2.30 c. Mat. 26 38. Luke 24.38 c. Iohn 19.34 Luke 23.46 Col. 2.14 15. Heb. 5.7 8 9. Quest 10. But was not Christ the Author of Salvation to all that believed in him and waited for Salvation by him before he was born as truly as he is now to believers since his birth and death and Resurrection and ascension to glory Luke 2.25 38. Iohn 8.56 Heb. 13.8 1 Cor. 10.3 4. Rev. 13.8 Ans Yes certainly Father Abraham rejoyced to see Christs day and he saw it by Faith and was glad and Iesus Christ was yesterday and to day and the same for ever in respect of his vertue and efficacy the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Quest 11. Was it necessary that Christ our Redeemer should thus be God Ans Yes The Majesty of God required he should be God Iob 15.15 Mat. 17.5 Acts 20.28 Isa 6.1 2 c. First That in his perfect purity he might draw near to God and be a fit Mediator for us to his Father Secondly That his merit might be of such excellent worth that it might satisfie the infinite Iustice of God which was then offended no Creature being so pure and precious as was needfull for it Quest 12. Was it necessary also that Christ should be man Ans Yes First The Iustice of God required Heb. 2.14 c. Mat. 4.3 c. that in the same nature in which man had sinned satisfaction should be made for sin therefore Christ took not upon him the nature of Angels but of man Secondly And our necessity required that Christ being man like us though without sin he might be touched with a feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4.15 16. and having been tempted himself might readily succour his Children when they are tempted Quest 13. How must Christ be known in respect of his person Ans That he is God and Man in one Person Ioh. 1.14 1 Cor. 8.4 5 6. 1 Tim. 2.5 3.16 by a Hypostalicall or Personall union of his two natures Divine and Humane for as the soul and body make but one man so God and Man make but one Christ Quest 14. In what manner is this union of the Divine and Humane nature so as there is not two but one Christ Ans Not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh Iohn 1.14 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Ioh. 5.7 Col. 1.26 c but by taking of the Manhood unto God not that the Divine nature which is common to all the three Persons did take our Humane person but the Person of the Son of God did assume our humanity and so God and Man became one Christ not by confusion of substance but by unity of Person in a great and wonderfull mystery Quest 15. Why was it needfull that Christ should be Theanthropos God and Man in one Person Heb. 5.1 Heb. 12.24 Iob 9.33 Col. 1.20 2 Cor. 5.19 c. Ans That being both God and Man he might be a fit Mediator between God and Man as a dayes-man to lay his hand upon us both to make up a reconciliation between us in and by himself Quest 16. What else followeth this near Personall union Ans Besides the excellency of the Person and Dignity of Christs merits there is a Communication of the Idiomes phrases or manner of speaking so that what is most agreeable to the Divine nature is attributed or spoken sometimes of the humane nature and what is agreeable to the humane is ascribed to the Divine by vertue of this personall union of both natures in one Person Quest 17. How prove you this Ans John 3.13 No man hath ascended up to Heaven but he that came down from heaven even the Son of Man which is in heaven where being in heaven which was proper at that time to Christ as God is ascribed to Christ the Son of Man And secondly Acts 20.28 where
and these tryalls are for the good of Gods Children all being sweetned to them even death it self by the death and passion and merits of Christ Quest 11. What is the fruit or benefit of this knowledge of the sufferings of Christ and of Gods Children Luke 22.42 Phil. 4.12 13. 1 Pet. 2 â—0 21. Ans To teach us in all afflictions to learn and labour by strength from Christ to submit our will to the will of God patiently to abide Gods pleasure and to wait upon God in all good and lawfull means Mat. 19.29 Heb 10.32 c. Luke 18.6 7 8. Rev. 6.9 10 11. till the Lord be pleased to repair the losses and avenge the blood of his servants that is shed upon the face of the earth Quest 12. What is the second part of Christs Priestly office Ans To be for ever at the right hand of God and as a holy High Priest and Mediator to make intercession for us to his Father and our Father and to his God and our God for the eternall good of his Church Rom. 8.34 Iohn 20.17 and 14.13 14. and 16.23 c. and 17.9 c. Heb. 7.25 26 and 9.24 c. The twelfth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the work or act of Christs Propheticall office Ans That in which Christ as the great Prophet Doctor Deut. 18.15 Act. 3.22 Mat. 23.8 Heb. 3.1 2. Isa 61.1 2 3. and Apostle of our Profession he doth reveal God the Father and his good will unto poor sinners whom he hath purchased with his own blood and to instruct them in the way of the new Covenant Mat. 11.25 c. Luke 4.18 Ioh. 1.18 Mat. 13.10 11. 28.29 30. Thes 2.13 how to come in to Christ for Iustification and how to walk in and by Christ in Sanctification unto Eternall happinesse Quest 2. When and how doth the Lord Christ execute his Propheticall office or practise this revealing of his will unto Adam or his Posterity Ans No doubt the Lord Christ as he was first God the second Person in sacred Trinity did at the first together with God the Father and God the holy Spirit reveal to our first Parents the Covenant of grace in Paradise after the fall And Secondly Christ the second Person did again in his Spirit in Noah Preach to the old world before the flood many of them then in the Prison of their sins and many of them now in the Prison of Hell Thirdly And as by himself so by his Spirit enlighten the Patriarchs and Prophets after the flood who writ the holy Scripture by his direction Fourthly And the Apostles and Evangelists since Christs Ascension But Christ did immediatly as God and Man in one Person exercise this his office when he lived upon the earth before and after his Resurrection Gen. 1.27 and 3.9 c. John 1.1 Prov. 8.12 c. The works without themselves are common to all the three Persons 1 Pet. 3.19 c. and 1.10 c. Gen. 9.8 c. and 28.12 c. and 22.15 c. Mal. 3.1 Psal 105.7 8 9 10. Christ the Angel of the Covenant spake to Abraham Jacob as Gen. 32. 28 c. Luke 11.49 Mat. 23.34 Exod. 3.2 c. 2 Pet. 1.19 c. Quest 3. What incouragements doth Christ hold forth as he is the chief Prophet for poor sinners to come in to him and believe and finde Eternall Salvation by his merits Ans The Lord Christ giveth divers motives to draw sinners to believe and repent and be saved Quest 4. What is the first Ans First Isa 55.1 2 3. Rev. 22.17 He invites them graciously to come and buy freely the wine and milk of the Gospel the water of life Christs righteousnesse and grace without money or money worth without any righteousnesse or merits of their own Quest 5. What is a second Ans Secondly Mar. 15.15 Mat. 9.13 11 3. He commands the Gospel to be Preached to every creature to all sinners without exception manifesting himself to be come Luke 19.10 Not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance yea to seek and to save that which was lost Quest 6. What is the third Encouragement Mat. 11.28 29. Ans Thirdly He calleth poor sinners sensible of sins burden to come unto him and promiseth to give them rest Quest 7. What is the fourth Motive or Encouragement to come in to Christ Ans Fourthly He holdeth forth to us in Scripture and since the Apostles times Examples of great sinners converted and drawn in to Christ and made Saints and Heirs of glory according to Gods counsell by Christ his Righteousnesse and merits Quest 8. With what Examples or similitudes doth Christ illustrate this truth 2 Chron. 33.21 c. Ier. 31.18 19. Mtt. 10.3 Luk. 19.2 c. 15. Acts 9.1 c. 1 Tim. 1.12 c. Ans Of Manasseh Ephraim Matthew Mary Magdalen Zacheus the Prodigall Son and Saul the persecutor afterwards a glorious Apostle of Iesus Christ Quest 9. But what shall such poor sinners do as finde by experience that truth verified That man by naturall power can neither believe nor repent How shall these obtain remission of sins or be Converted to God Ans These may yet wait upon Christ in his Ordinanceâ— Isa 8.17 25.6 7 8 9. 51.4 5 6. Hab. 2.3 Luk. 23.51 Cant. 1.4 Ioh. 5.1 c. Isa 42.6 Act. 5.31 untill he draw them that they run after him For God hath given Christ himself for a Covenant and exalted Christ as a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins As Job in another sense Job 14.14 So wait on Christ Quest 10. But how doth Christ this great Prophet of his Church reveal God the Father and his good will to poor sinners that they may know God and Christ and believe and be converted and be saved Ans Christ in the ordinary way Isa 6i 1 2 3. Luke 4.18 c. Acts 16.14 2.36 c. Rom. 19.6 c. 2 Cor. 3.8 Ioh. 16.7 c. 14.26 Eph. 1.17 c. He. 8.10 Ioh. 16.7 c. Rom. 3.20 Iohn 3.18 c. doth reveal this outwardly by the Preaching of the Word and Catechizing and inwardly by the Spirit communicated in the Gospel teaching and writing the truth of God according to his Covenant of grace in the hearts of his children Quest 11. In what wanner doth Christ thus proceed by his Word and Spirit to reveal God to man and man to himself and the will of God to men concerning mans Salvation Ans The Lord doth this divers wayes in respect of particular persons but commonly by the Spirit of Christ in the word First Revealing sin bondage and misery in sin sometimes by the Law or commanding part of the Word or otherwise at his pleasure sometimes by the Gospel and promising part Secondly Revealing Christ and his righteousnesse and Free-grace drawing the poor humbled soul to desire
and long for and to receive believe and gladly rest on him alone for Salvation Act. 2.38 39. Iohn 1.11 12. Acts 16.14 15. and 16.27 c. and 4.12 Heb. 5.9 Quest 12. What further doth this great Prophet work in the soul of a believer by his Word and Spirit Ans 2 Pet. 3.16 c. He perswades the soul First to grow more and more in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Mark 9.23 24. Lu 7.17.5 Secondly To believe more and more Thirdly To repent and be sanctified more and more Fourthly To become a new creature more and more Fifthly To be more and more fruitfull in good works And Sixthly By daily beholding First The glory of God in the face of Christ And secondly The glory of Christ in the glasse of the Gospel to be made more and more partaker of the Divine nature and changed from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord Phil. 3.9 c. Luke 17.5 Eph. 3.14 c. and 4.7 c. Rom. 12. and 13. Mat 5.16 Col. 1.7 c. and 1.21 c. 2 Pet. 1.7 c. 2 Cor. 5.17 and 3.17 18. Quest 13. Now you have shewed the Priestly and Propheticall office of Christ What are the acts or work of Christs Kingly office Ans Christ doth not only as a mighty Conquerour rescue and Redeem his Church and children out of the hands of all their enemies spirituall or temporall and call gather and unite them to himself as his own mysticall body But as a rich and bountifull Prince bestow upon them all needfull graces and protect preserve and govern them in this Kingdom of grace untill he bring them safe unto his Kingdom of glory Isa 63.2 c. and 54.5 c. Luke 1.74 75. Tit. 2.13 14. Heb. 2.14 15. Mat. 20.1 2. and 22.1 c. John 12.20 c. Eph. 3.8 and 4.7 Mat. 28.10 Rev. 2.1 2 Tim. 4 16 c. Quest 14. When and how did Christ make evident that as a mighty Conqueror he had rescued and redeemed his Church out of the hands of their enemies and by his active and passive obedience to his Fathers will satisfied the Justice of God and purchased for his Children remission of sins and life everlasting Psal 2.6 c. Mat. 28.1 c. Mark 16.9 c. Luk. 24.32 c. Ioh. 20.19 c. Acts 2.23 c. 1.9 c. 3.19 c. 17.31 Luk. 21.27 28. Mat. 25.34 c. Ans When as a powerfull Prince he did break the bars and loosed the cords and pains of death as being impossible to be holden of it and gloriously did rise from the dead First appearing to his Disciples after his Resurruction And secondly Ascending visibly into heaven Thirdly sitting at the right hand of God his Father And fourthly there to remain till he shall come at the Day of Iudgement in a triumphant manner for to Iudge both quick and dead to the evealasting confusion of all his enemies and the Eternall good of his Church Quest 15. When else did Christ openly make this evident to the world of his Church Ans When by the powerfvll Preaching of the Gospel Rom. 15.15 c. 16.25 c. and work of his Spirit he brought so many Kingdoms and Nations to the obedience of Faith Quest 16. When doth the Lord Christ make this evident inwardly to the soul and conscience of a man or woman Ans When by his Word and Spirit he enlightens the eye of Faith to see Gal. 2.19 20. 2 Tim. 4.7 8. finde and assuredly perceive and enableth the mouth and tongue of Faith to speak and by assured evidence of the Spirit to say to his or her own Soul as Paul did Christ loved me and gave himself for me and Christ hath laid up for me a Crown of Righteousnesse in heaven Quest 17. How and when doth the Lord Christ call gather and unite his Church or particular members thereof as one body unto himself Ans When the Lord Christ by his faithfull Servants Mat. 28.19 20. 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Act. 26.17 18. as Ambassadors for Christ rightly called to that great office by the power of his Word and Spirit draweth them out of the Kingdom of the world sin and Satan to receive him to be their Lord and only Mediator yea their Eternall High Priest Prophet and King for their Eternall salvation Quest 18. Are the Ministers of Christ ordained by Christ in a speciall calling above others to be Instruments or outward means of converting men and women unto Christ and to bring them out of the Kingdom of darknesse into this Kingdom of Christ Psal 68.17 c. Eph. 4.10 c. Act. 26.18 c. 1 Cor. 3.5 c. 4.15 Gal. 4.19 Ans Yes the Lord Christ ascended up on high and having led Captivity Captive he gave gifts unto men first some Apostles some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the work of Ministery and Gods Ministers as outward Instruments through Christ in their speciall calling do beget men again through the Gospel and travel in birth again untill Christ be formed in them and that they may be turned from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God and presented with joy to God their Father by Iesus Christ their Lord and King of his Church Quest 19. May not all Christians in generall undertake this work of this Ministery to convert Souls and build them up in the truth of Christ as well as those who are so specially called of God to it Ans Certainly howsoever in Primitive times Act. 8.1 2 3 4. 8.14 11.19 c. 1 Cor. 12.12 c. some Disciples extraordinarily endued with the Holy Ghost did Preach the Gospel in dayes of persecution to Pagans and Infidels that knew not Christ and although all Christians in generall are Members of the same body of Christ and ought in their places to have a care of the whole body neverthelesse every Member is not a head or an eye or a tongue or to exercise the office of them And howsoever all the Members of Christ as private Christians may communicate their gift of knowledge one to another Heb. 10.25 in times and places convenient not leaving off their attendance on Christ in the publike Ordinances exercised by the Ministers of Christ nor separating from the publike congregations of Saints yet the great office of the publike Ministration Heb. 5.4 5. belongeth to none but such as are specially called and appointed thereunto by their Lord and King Christ Iesus Quest 20. How doth Christ our heavenly King call his Servants and Ambassadors to this great work of the Ministery Ans First Mat 28.19 20. Ioh. 20.20 c. Acts 16.8 9 10. 1 Tim. 1.11 12. 3.1 c. inwardly furnishing them with grace and experimental knowledge of Christs power and grace in their own souls that they may reveal Christ and the way of
and towards us in Redemption Thirdly to us in giving the Gospel and and Spirit of Christ whereby men and women most sinfull and miserable by nature are gathered and called by the Ministery of the Gospel without and power of the same Spirit within First out of darknesse to light Secondly from the power of Satan to God reconciled in Christ Thirdly from self-confidence to believe in Christ Fourthly from communion and union with the world the flesh and the Devil in all sin and wickednesse to an union and communion with God in Christ in all righteousnesse and true holinesse as that true way and path in by and for Christ which leads to glory Matth. 11.25 c. Joh. 6.44 45. Acts 13 47 c. Eph. 4.8 c. Acts 26.17 c. 1 Pet. 2.2 c. Rom. 7.1 Matth. 10.3 The Publican Zacheus Luke 19.5 c. as Acts 9. Paul called extraordinarily So Acts 2.37 c. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Tit. 2.11 12. Joh. 14.6 Quest 11. What is the sixth grace or benefit which Christ hath procured for us and we do receive from God our Father in and through Christ his only begotten Son our Lord Ioh. 17.3 Eccl. 17.18 19. Ier. 31.33 34. Ans The precious gift and grace of Divine and Heavenly knowledge by the Spirit of Wisdom to know God the Father together with God the Son and the same blessed Spirit the true God and the knowledge of Iesus Christ whom the Father hath sent into the world for our salvation and whom to know is life Eternall Quest 12. What is a seventh grace or gift procured by Christ and given of God to us in Christ by the Spirit in Christ to our comfort Ans The rich and precious gift and grace of Faith Phil. 1.29 Ioh. 1. 11 12. Ioh. 3.16 of which we shall speak in due place as a hand to receive and apply Christ and in Christ Iustification and life Eternall Quest 13. What is the eighth blessing gift or grace procured by Christ and given of God the Father Son and blessed Spirit in Christ and for Christ to his Church and Children Ans That inestimable gift and grace of free Iustification before God for life and Salvation Rom. 5.1 9 10. Quest 14. What is this gift and grace of Justification Ans Iustification is the free gracious act of God Psa 32.1 2. A s 13.37 Rom. 3.23 c. Rev. 2.17 Rom. 6.14 8.1 33 34. 2 Cor. 5.20 21. in which for the merits and righteousnesse of Christ apprehended by a true and lively Faith The Lord doth first freely discharge acquit forgive absolve and set free a faithfull or believing man or woman from all the imputation guilt and punishment of sin yea from death and Hell the second death or death Eternall due to sin Secondly doth also repute account esteem and judge or sentence and so make them righteous in and for and through not their own but the merits and righteousnesse of Christ and so in and for Christ gives them the white stone of grace and adjudgeth them to life Eternall Quest 15. You say Justification is the free act of God How is it free Or how are we said to be freely justified when as you also say it is for the merits of Christ Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. Rom. 8.32 Ans We may well be said to be Iustified freely by grace 1. Because we pay nothing for it of our own to God himself 2. Because Christ by whose merits and righteousnesse we are Iustified is Gods free gift Quest How are ye said to be Justified by Christ Rom. 5.1 when the Apostle saith We are Justified by Faith Ans Faith is the Instrument by which we receive and apply Christ Mat. 5.17 Rom. 5.9 by whose merits and vertue we are Iustified Faith brings nothing of our own but receives from Christ indeed properly and meritoriously It is Christ applyed by Faith in whom God is well pleased and for whom we are Iustified in Gods sight Quest 17. But doth not the Apostle Iames say That Abraham was justified by works How then are we justified by Christ apprehended by Faith or how by works as St. Iames speaks Ans The Apostle James speaks of Iustification Iam. 2.20 c. Rom. 4.1 c. Rom. 3.27.28 or rather a Declaration of our Iustification before men and this is by works the fruits of a true and lively faith but before God not by or for any works of ours but for Christs merits applyed by Faith we are justified in the presence of God Quest 18. What benefit is there to a true believer in and by this grace of Justification before God in Christ for being thus made righteous in Gods presence Ans An excellent change into a new state and condition 1. Before a sinner subject to an angry God Eph. 2.3 But now a Saint delivered from wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 2. Before an enemy to God in our carnall mindes Rom. 8.7 But now friends reconciled to God in Christ Rom. 5.10 2 Cor. 5.10 3. Before afar off Eph. 2.1 3. But now brought nigh Eph. 2.13 4. Before strangers and forraigners but now fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2.19 5. In a word Before neither sons nor daughters in grace But now sons and daughters of God in Christ and heirs and fellow-heirs of Christ in Eternall glory 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Rom. 8.17 Quest 19. This is comfortable knowledge concerning this blessing and grace of Iustification Now what is a ninth blessing or benefit which is procured by Christ and bestowed upon us from God the Father in and by the Lord Iesus 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Ans Great blessings and benefits of Adoption to be sons and daughters of God in Christ The fourteenth Classis or Company Questions 1 Question VVHat is the grace and great blessing of Adoption 1 Iohn 3.1 Eph. 1.5 6. Ioh. 1.12 Gal. 4.4 5. Ans It is the act of Gods Free-grace and love in Christ whereby according as he hath Predestinated Redeemed Called and Iustified So he doth Adopt and take those who were strangers in unbelief now brought neer by Faith and receiving Christ by Faith to be sons and daughters of God in Christ Iesus Quest 2. What difference is there between a Natural and an Adopted Son or Daughter Ans A Natural Son or Daughter is one who is begotten or born of a Natural Father or Mother Gen. 21.2 as Isaac was the Natural Son of Abraham and Sarah And Rebekah the Natural Daughter of Bethuel and Milcah Gen. 24.24 c. But an Adopted Son or Daughter is one not Naturally begotten or born but a stranger by birth Adopted and taken to be a Son or Daughter Exod. 2.5 c. as Moses was the Adopted Son of Pharaohs Daughter And Esther the Adopted Daughter of Mordecai Esth 2.7 Hos 2.23 So is it between God and us Quest 3. What is a certain property or sure
evidence of Adoption Ans The Spirit of Prayer whereby the Childe of God is enabled to cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 26 27 and to seek to the Lord upon all occasions as to a Father Quest 4. What is a chief Prerogative and Priviledge of an Adopted Son and Daughter of God Ans Not only this new Name of Son and Daughter of God and the excellency thereof which no man knoweth but he that hath it but also the right Title and Dignity of an Heir Rev. 2.17 Rom. 8.17 yea a fellow-Heir with Christ of Eternal glory Quest 5. How may a man or woman know that he or she is the Son or Daughter of God Rom. 8.16 Mat. 5.44 c. Prov. 4.18 2 Cor. 3.17 18. 6.16 c. 2 Pet. 14.4 Ans First by the testimony of the Spirit witnessing with our Spirits Secondly by our daily growing more and more into the likenesse of God our Father in all holinesse and perfection of Divine Nature Quest 6. But what is the ninth blessing and benefit procured and commmunicated by Christ to his Elect and chosen Ion. 1.11 12. 2 Cor. 5.7 Ans The glorious grace of new creation or new birth Quest 7. What is this new creation or birth Eph. 4.22 c. Ioh. 3.3 5. Col. 3.10 1 Cor. 6.9 c. 1 Thes 2.13 5.23 Rom. 12.12 Ans It is a Sanctification of and real communication or change of our Nature our understanding will memory and whole man by the Spirit of Sanctification from impurity and sin to the pure Image of God pressing more and more to perfection and to be like God our Father in Christ not like or conformed to the world as the children of this world desire to be Quest 8. What are the two chief acts or works wrought in the soul by the Spirit of Christ in the grace of new creation Col. 3.5 c. Rom. 6.6 c. 7.22 c. Ans First the Mortification weakning and killing or crucifying of the old man or Natural corruption or Law in our members and rebelling power of sin in us as dregs of the old Adam to be purged out Secondly the Vivification Col. 3.10 2 Cor. 4.16 5.14 15. 3.17 18. Gal. 2.20 or quickning and enlivening of the new man or inward man in our souls according to the Image of God and living power of Christ now living in us Quest 9. What is the chief end of this new creation and holinesse thus wrought in us by the holy Ghost Isa 61.3 Heb. 12.14 2 Thes 13. Ioh. 17.17 24. Ans That we may be trees of righteousnesse that God may be glorified 2. That we may see God and be saved Quest 10. How may a man or woman know they are new Creatures Ans First by the help of the Spirit of Christ Eph. i. 17 c. Secondly by the light of their own consciences reflecting upon themselves in self Examination so here to finde out Rom. 9.1 1. What changes is wrought in their hearts and will and affections Psa 51.9 10 11. as David prays for Psal 15.1 2 3. Ezek. 36.31 Psal 16.2 3. Psal 119.97 2. In their lives and conversations from sin and wickednesse to Grace and goodnesse 3. What loathing of evil and loving of God goodnesse and good people according to godlinesse in their Souls and Spirits 1 Tim. 1.12 c. 1. This change Paul found in himself 1 Cor. 6.9 c. 2. This he found in his Christian Corinthians 3. And this a man or woman may finde in themselves Ioh. 9.25 if a true change or new creation be wrought in them Quest 11. What is the tenth blessing and benefit procured by Christ and given in and by Christ from God the Father to his Church and Children Ioh. 14 i6 c. Ezek. 36.27 Zach. 12.10 Rom. 8.9 Gal. 4.5 6. 1 Cor. 12.3 c. 1 Ioh. 2.27 Ans The great and special and daily gift of the blessed Spirits presence the holy Ghost God equal with the Father and the Son not only as a worker of all these graces in us at first as we noted before but also as continually present a counsellor and comforter yea a perpetual preserver of his graces in the souls of Gods children meeting them in the Word Preached in the Sacraments in Prayer and in all other duties and Ordinances secret private and publike for their Eternal good in Christ Jesus Quest 12. How shall a man or woman know he or she hath the Spirit of Christ Ans If he or she be led or guided by the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8 i 2 12 14 Quest 13. What respect is to be had to the Spirit Ans A special care is to be taken Eph. 4.30 Psal 52.11 12. that we grieve not the Spirit by whom we are sealed to the day of Redemption but to prize his presence above all earthly treasure Quest 14. Are there any more blessings which Christ hath procured and God in Christ giveth to his Church Ans Yes there are multitudes in particular both for this present life and the life to come I will name but these that follow Quest 15. What is the first Isa 61.10 Rom. 14.17 Ans First the cloathing upon with Christs righteousnesse Quest 16. What is the second Ans Peace with God with and in our own consciences and with all good Angels and men Rom. 5.1 Phil. 4.7 Hos 2.18 Luke 2.14 Isa 11.5 c. Heb. 1.14 2 Pet. 1.11 12. Rev 22.9 Quest 17. What is the third Ans Thirdly joy and rejoycing in hope of the glory of God rejoycing in Christ with joy unspeakable and full of glory Rom. 5.2 14.17 1 Pet. 1.8 Quest 18. What is the fourth 1 Pet. 1.3 Ans Fourthly a lively hope of Heaven which no wicked man can have Quest 19. What is a fifth Rom. 5.3 Act. 5.41 Heb. 11.24 c. Ans Fifthly a joyful willingnesse to suffer for Christ Quest 20. What is the sixth Rom. 8.28 Psa 119.71 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Ans Sixthly an ordering of all things whatsoever for good of Gods children yea a working of all for good a blessing unspeakable Quest 21. What is the seventh Ans Seventhly an assurance we are Gods children by the Spirits witnesse and the fruits and graces of Christ in my soul Quest 22. What it the eighth Isa 11.10 Phil 4.11 c. Ans Eighthly a sweet rest and contentment in Christ in every state and condition both for soul and body for this life and the life to come Quest 23. What is the ninth Gal. 2.20 Ans Ninthly an enlivening vertue from Christ to cherish life and grace in the soul Ioh. 15.15 Phil. 4.12 and enable us for every duty and performance to Gods glory and good of our selves and others Quest 24. What is the tenth Ans Tenthly Gen. 4 4. Mat. 17.5 Heb. 11.4 Isa 1.5 6 7. 1 Pet. 1.3 c.
You have explained and held forth the Author Matter and Form of the Sacrament now what is your knowledge concerning the Vse Benefit and End of the Sacrament to faithful and right Communicants Ans The Ends Use and Benefits of this Sacrament are divers for the unspeakable benefit of faithful receivers Quest 11. What is a first End Ans First to seal and confirm the Covenant and promise of Gods free Grace in Christ Mat. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. to our souls with Christs vertue and merits and all the benefits which Christ hath procured for us in his Passion Death Resurrection Ascention yea his whole active and passive obedience to his Fathers will as our Surety with his whole Humiliation and Glorification as mediator between God and us all sealed in this Sacrament Quest 12. What is a second End Ans On our part to renew and seal our mutual Covenant of thankfulnesse Rom. 12.1.2 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Psal 116.12 Psal 119.105 and obedience to our God and Father again in and by the vertue and power of Christ to be manifested in our lives according to that light of his will revealed by his Word and Spirit to our souls from Christ our chief Prophet and director in the way to happinesse Quest 13. What is a third End of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ans To hold forth Christ by remembring and shewing the Lords death until he come for the strengthening of our Faith and refreshing of our souls in the lively representation of Christs love to us Ioh. 15.13 1 Cor. 11.24 c. giving his body to be crucified and his blood to be shed for our sins evidently held forth in the sacramental breaking of the Bread powring out of the Wine seen by the eye of the body as the inward graces are by the faithful eye of the soul in every Communicant Quest 14. What is the fourth End and Benefit of this Sacrament Ans It is a sealing and confirming 2 Cor. 8.9 Eph. 3.8 Ioh. 6.56 1 Cor. 1.9 Ioh. 17.20 Eph. 3.8 16 c. 1 Cor. 6.15 Col. 3.2 3. 1 Cor. 12.12 13. First of our union and communion with God in Christ and of our right and title to all the riches and treasures of Christs Kingdom of Grace and glory And secondly of our union and communion one with another in Christ and with the whole Church of God as fellow members of the same mystical body of which Christ our Lord and Saviour is the head for the comfort and benefit of his Church Quest 15. Are there no other Ends of this Sacrament Ans Yes their are divers other ends and uses As Acts 2.46 47. First the profession of our Faith that we are Christians not Iews Turks or Infidels Secondly the profession of our love unity Acts 2.46 47. and charity one towards and with one another Thirdly 1 Cor. 11.17 18. Ephes 9.3 4 5. the conservation of our fellowship and communion with Saints Fourthly Our strengthening of all graces in us by participation and meditation of Christ held forth in this Ordinance in all times of temptations and divers other ends and uses but the former are principle in this Sacrament John 6.32 33 34 35 50 51. The ninteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have declared your knowledge concerning the Author matter form and end of this Sacrament now what do you know concerning the outward circumstances of partaking of this Sacrament time place and gestures What light have you from Christ for these Answ I do not finde that the Lord Christ hath directly and expresly commanded any set time place or gesture when where and in what manner of gesture sitting or kneeling or standing we should receive the Sacrament But the Spirit of Christ in his holy Apostle Paul hath held forth two general Rules 1 Cor. 14.40 and 11.34 Col. 2.5 Rom. 14.17 18 19. 1 Cor. 10.23 and 14.25 Rom. 14.1 2 c. and 15.1 2. First That all things should be done according to decency and order And secondly That all be done to edification Quest 2. But may not the consciences of Gods children be ordered and bound up to particulars in these things Ans I am perswaded that no Law or Rule ought to be made to binde the tender conscience of any man or woman where the Lord Christ the chief teacher doth not binde nor ought any liberty of conscience be given where the Lord Iesus Christ giveth no liberty But all Churches ought to be content if they cannot agree in circumstance and ceremony yet lovingly to agree in matters of substance which Christ hath plainly holden forth unto his Church in the holy Scriptures Quest 3. But may not Christian liberty be used in these things which are onely circumstantial in this Sacrament Ans Yes Christian liberty may be used in these things Rom. 14.1 2 c. and 15.1 2 3. Gal. 6.1 2 3. and the stronger ought not to tyrannize over the conscience of the weaker brother or sister but to bear one anothers burden and so fulfil the Law of Christ yea the stronger brethren and the Elders of the Church ought in all love and tendernesse to endevour the instruction of the weaker and to inform the judgement rather then by force upon the outward man to compel the conscience Quest 4. But may not the weak Christians absolutely and peremptorily use what circumstances they please Ans The weak ought in all humility to seek information of judgement and satisfaction in scrupulous or tender doubtful cases of conscience that if it be possible he or she may conform to the Directory of that particular Church Eph. 4.1 2 3. Psal 133.1 c. of which he or she is a member or if not to behave themselves humbly peaceably and Christian like rather then to break or endanger the breaking of the bond of unity amity and uniformity in that Church wherein God in his providence calls them to partake in this holy Ordinance Quest 5. Verily I do desire to conform my self to the Order and Directory of that Church and Congregation where I live and I long often to meet Christ in this holy Ordinance But I have some doubts trouble me in the present Directory for giving and receiving the bread and wine at the Lords Table And first I am not satisfied upon what ground the gesture of kneeling so much pressed formerly as if it had been a matter of absolute necessity is now changed into a Table gesture of sitting about or at the Lords Table Ans To satisfie you in this I desire you first to consider that the gesture of kneeling at the Sacrament hath no example much lesse any command either in Old or New Testament Search the Scriptures and you can finde none and so no binding necessity can presse the continuance of it The real presence bodily advanced by Pope Innocent about 1215. Secondly If you read all the History of the Church
in the Primitive times truly believers and converted to Christ before they were baptized 1 Cor. 12.13 Rom. 8.11 and indeed all the Saints in the world make but one body or Church of Christ quickened by Christs spirit to life eternal This godly Mr. Perkins excellently sets forth by a similitude which I shall expresse in this order Mr. Perkins on the creed Suppose a man as high as heaven his legs standing one in Asia the other in America his hands spred out one over Europe the other over Africa his toes and fingers in England France Germany and other parts of the world many hundred miles distant asunder and all quickened by one and the same soul This distance of place doth not hinder the union of every part of the body to the head and of each part to the fellow members or the truth of any part in particular There is and may be a sweet union and communion of one part with another though far distant in places and Countries Kingdoms Cities and Common wealths where they live and a truth of each part though not all beautiful alike one excelling in graces above another In the same manner the Head of the mystical Body and Church of Christ is now in heaven the Lord Christ himself our Lord and Saviour and some of his members in heaven with him and some in earth and of these some part in England some in Scotland some in Germany some in divers other Kingdoms Nations Provinces Cities Parishes and Congregations of men in several places of the world many hundred ye thousand miles some parts distant from the other and the spirit of God is as it were the soul of this body which giveth spiritual life unto all the members and all united by this one and the same spirit by whom we are all baptizâ—d into one body as we noted before And so first you see how the Church may be said to be Catholike or Universal as it comprehendeth all the members of the body scattered in divers Countries Secondly how it is and may be called national as it is a company called of God to believe repent and professe subjection to the Faith and Gospel-holinesse living and preserved in England Scotland or other Nations Thirdly how it was or might be called a Church provincial in the Province or Countrey of Galatia in the Cities of Ephesus Corinth Geneva London or other Cities and Provinces greater or lesse whatsoever Lastly how the same Church of Christ is and may be called particular or congregational as it relates to persons called professing Faith and holinesse admitted to Church communion and united together in a holy profession and participation of Word Sacraments and other ordinances of Christ Iesus in one parochial or congregational Assembly all as particular true members of the Catholike or Universal Church of Christ Quest 17. What or how manifold is that outward corporal or visible entrance into the visible Church of Christ and fellowship of the Saints Ans As the inward entrance is but one in substance Eph. 1.5 2 Tim. 1.9 1 Cor. 6.11 Ioh. 10.7 Ioh. 14.6 and thus in and by Christ we are elected and chosen of God the Father but it is in and by Christ and so we are inwardly called and justified and sanctified but it is in and by the same spirit of Christ The Lord Christ is the onely way and door of entrance into the Church Millitant and Church triumphant and so likewise there is but one outward entrance and admission into the Church of Christ for the substance and principal matter of it and this was by way of Covenant and seal of the Covenant as an Ordinance of Christ although there have been divers manners and wayes in the practise of the Churches and amongst the Saints of the most High yet all I conceive by a charitable and Christian construction may be referred to and for substance ageee with the Ordinance and institution of Christ Quest 18. What is or was the first of these wayes of admission and entrance into the Church or Church-fellowship and communion of Saints before Christ coming in our humane nature Ans To omit former times and what was the practise of the Church then and Gods Ordinance the footsteps thereof not being easily to be found I look upon that Ordinance and Institution of Christ with Abraham and the practise of the Church in Abrahams family and Generation Rom. 4.16 17. Abraham being in some respect the Father of the Faithful and the Church in his house a Type if I may so call it of the Church of Christ since the coming of Christ and of the household of Faith Quest 19. Gen. 17.2 3 c. Isai 56.6 7. Num. 15. Exo. 12.48 Gen. 17. What was the Institution of Christ and Direction to Abraham for admission and entrance into the Church Ans This Ordinance of Christ to Abraham was by way of Covenant between God and Abraham and Abrahams Seed the Faithful or beleevers and compleated by a signe and seal of this Covenant in Abraham and his children and all that should come in to be of Abrahams family and so members of the Church and to their children at eight dayes old as to Isaac and all Abrahams posterity This signe and seal was Circumcision as we may reade Gen. 17. Quest 20. But howsoever there was and might be a Covenant between God and Abraham and so between men of ripe yeers and the Lord mutually Yet how could there be a Covenant between God and Abrahams young children or the children of other beleevers when they were circumcised Whereas they were but eight dayes old and Circumcision in the ordinary way to be deferred no longer And how were these admitted into the Church by Covenant and Circumcision the signe and seal of the Covenant of Grace between God and Abraham Ans First The Covenant or Promise on Gods part or by the Lord was with Abraham himself and in and with Abraham to and with the children and beleeving posterity of Abraham And all Proselytes whom the Lord should convert and draw in to beleeve and to be of Abrahams Family or of the Church by Faith and Profession manifested by submitting unto and accepting of Circumcision Gen. 17. that signe and seal of the Covenant appointed by the Lord to Abraham and to and for Abrahams posterity and all such converted Proselytes and their children whatsoever Secondly As on Abrahams part Gen. 12. Gen. 17. Rom. 4.11 the Covenant was mutually made with God by himself in taking the Lord for his God as he had done before by beleeving the Promise That in him that is in his Seed Christ should all the nations of the Earth be blessed renewed here again as expressed more fully in and by acceptance of and submitting unto circumcision the signe and seal of the Covenant of Grace and of the righteousnesse of Faith in Christ the Messiah to come and so by men of ripe years Proselytes converted to
whom I lived Rom. 7.14 c. Psal 66.18 19. 2 Cor. 7.5 Gen. 25.22 or of any sailings in my self either in judgement or affection but was rather sorry for sin in others though by occasion and temptation I have faln but in those things which the world and some of my acquaintance counted but peccadilloes little sins yet I could not rest until for the quieting of my conscience I went into a secret place and confessed my sins to God yea sometimes with many tears and begging pardon and power over them but still my life was without comfort I sinned and prayed and seemed to repent and confessing my sins and sinned again and thought by my repentance I pacified Gods wrath or might please him by amendment yet I got not power over my sins and the corruptions of my nature nor any true peace or assurance that I was Gods childe and therefore lived in fear of Hell and sense of bondage Rom 7.14 15. Gen. 25 22. and fear sometimes that I had neither true faith nor repentance in me or did know either Christ or the Gospel of grace as I should if I had any life of grace in me and so it was as if I had twins in my soul as Rebecca had Quest 12. It s a good sign you had truth of grace in that you were not drawn to allow of sin in your self or others and that indeed there were twins in your soul Flesh and Spirit but your course in seeking to pacifie your conscience Gen. 25.23 Gal. 5.17 in some humiliation and confessions and sorrow for your sins with resolution of amendment if they did arise from any legal fears or accusations of natural conscience and not from Christs Spirit or if you rested in these or any acts or works of your own or in any religious duty or performances of duty of piety or mercy as many do although your conscience might be quieted for the present as a Papists conscience by his Confession to a Priest or performance of Penances enjoyned yet this way was not the way to get any true or sound peace to your soul or to get any true power over your sins or sinful corruptions in you but to look to Christ Acts 5.3 whom God hath exalted as a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins and to wait on Christ in the Gospel till you by the Spirit of Christ be made so sensible of sin and misery that you see your extreme need of Christ and be drawn by the same Spirit to receive and rest on Christ as a sufficient Saviour and one in whom God the Father is well pleased This is the way to true peace in your soul Mat. 17 5. as the treasure of Christs Kingdom set up in your heart Rom. 14.17 Ioh. 1.12 Mat. 11.28 c. Ans I do acknowledge you say well Ioh. 6.37 44. Isa 11.10 26.3 4 Mat. 16.24 Phil. 3.6 c. Rom. 15.13 8.16 though I might have some weak faith in Christ and some beginning of grace in my soul yet the way I went was not a right way as now I believe to gain true peace because I did not begin my peace and assurance of peace from Christ and Gods Free-grace and love in Christ and faith in him but from my endeavour of repentance and acts of amendment both which I finde imperfect to this day and so can have no perfect and full peace that way but now I praise God since it pleased God of his goodnesse to let me see a more clear light of the Gospel and to reveal his Son in me as Saint Paul speaks Gal. 1.16 I have found and felt that there is a glorious rest and peace in Christ for poor sinners Isa 11.10 Ioh. 6.44 Ioh. 6.37 whom God the Father giveth and draweth into Christ and whom Christ will in no wise cast out from him and now the Lord hath enabled me to deny my self-righteousnesse and all self-confidence and by faith in Christ held forth in the promise of the Gospel to adhere to Christ to rest on Christ and trust to his merits and righteousnesse for my Justification before God and my eternal salvation in heaven and thus I have joy and peace in believing and am assured by the spirit of God Rom. 8.16 Gal. 2.20 witnessing with my spirit that I am the childe of God and have life of grace in me that Christ liveth in me and so I may come with comfort to meet Christ for nourishment of this life of grace at the Lords Table Quest But have you now other signs or symptomes of the life of grace in you save your faith and resting on Christ for salvation Ans Truly by that light I have from Christ I must acknowledge Christ rested truly on by faith and that assurance arising from the truth of the promises of God in the Gospel in general and special Gal. 2.20 2 Cor. 1.20 5.19 20 2 Tim. 1.12 Eph. 3.16 c. Iohn 6.5 6. Rom. 6.11 and the perswasion of Gods spirit in my soul in particular that Christ loved me and gave himself for me and so that God is my God reconciled in Christ to me and the eye of the soul by a reflect act of faith seeing that I do belive and by a living hand of faith lay hold and rest on Christ for salvation this lively faith I say is a prime evidence that Christ is mine and that Christ dwelleth in me and that I am his and that he hath truly communicated the life of grace to my soul but besides this I finde other signs of the spirit of life in me evidencing I hope the life of grace in my soul Quest 14. I do confesse a true lively faith is and may be a principal evidence of the life of grace in the heart Now what other evidence have you Ans First by light from Christ I have found that this assurance by faith in Christ Rom 5.4 5. and Christs spirit of Christs love to me and the shedding abroad of this love of God in my soul hath affected my heart 1. With love to Christ again yea such a love as draweth me after Christ more and more Rom 5.4 5. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Cant. 1.2 3 4. 2 Cor. 5.17 2 Pet. 1. â— 4. 1 Pet. 2.2 3. 1 Cor. 11.16 Iohn 6.33 c. Iob 22.21 Gen. 24.63 Isa 66.11 12.3 1 Cor. 16.22 1 Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 20.27 and after a more full union and communion with Christ And 2. Constrains me with a holy spiritual loving affection to live henceforth not to my self but to him who lived and died for me and rose again So that now 3. I am made partaker of a new creation and of the Divine nature 4. I hunger more vehemently after the word of grace as having tasted that the Lord is gracious I long to meet with Christ here to receive spiritual nourishment from Christ to nourish this life of grace
seeing to be exercised in this holy Sacrament Ans The spiritual sense which answereth bodily sight is a spiritual sight and eye of the soul or rather eye of faith and the spiritual object of the eye of faith is the Body and Blood of Christ or whole Christ my Saviour presented to the eye of my soul as preprared from all Eternity by God the Father as a perfect Saviour and a full banquet Ioh. 6.27 c. 1 Cor. 10.16 17. by his vertue and merits to nourish and enliven my soul and body to life eternal and the life of grace in me to the life of glory for which himself exhorts me to labour and wait for him in this Sacrament Quest 11. What is to be acted or done by you when you thus see the Bread and Wine prepared for you on the Lords Table Answ I ought by the power of Christ 1. To observe diligently the Sacramental Elements of Bread and Wine first what they are 2. To meditate and see how fitly they represent the Body and Blood of Christ And 3. By the eye and hand of faith to apply all to my own soul Heb. 10.5 6 7. Ioh. 6.27 that as I see the Bread and Wine is prepared by the Minister of Christ and Gods goednesse for my bodily nourishment so to see how the Lord Iesus Christ is prepared from all Eternity for nourishment of my soul to life everlasting Quest 12. What is the third Sacramental object of senses corporal and spiritual to be exercised in this feast of the Lord Mat. 26.6 27. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.26 c. Ans The action of blessing Elements in which both the sences of seeing and hearing bodily are to be exercised when the Minister of Christ by solemn prayer doth Blesse Consecrate and Sanctifie 1. The Bread to be the Sacramental Body of Christ 2. The Wine to be his Sacramental Blood according to the Lords Institution seeing and hearing of them both sanctified and separated from common Bread and Wine to this holy use and end by prayer thanksgiving and blessing according to the command example and institution of Christ Quest 13. What is the object of your spiritual sences of seeing and hearing in this action represented by consecration of Sacramentdl Bread Ioh. 6.27 Ans By the ear and eye of faith I am to hear and see God the Father sealing and consecrating Christ the Lord for the everlasting nourishment of my soul and body spirirually to life eternal Quest 14. What is to be acted and done when you thus hear and see the Bread and Wine blessed and consecrated by the Minister of Christ with the ears and eyes of your body and hear and see the Lord Christ so represented consecrated and sealed by God the Father with the ears and eyes of faith the spiritual senses of the life of grace in your soul 1 Cor. 10.18 Rom. 10.7 c. Ans First Rom. 8.9 1 Pet. 1.11 Iohn 16.26 Isa 63.4 c. Heb. 10.14 observation by the power and assistance of Christs spirit and his quickning power in my soul Secondly to observe diligently by the power of God this blessing consecrating and sanctifying of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine by Christs Minister and by the ear and eye of the soul this consecrating and sealing of Christ by the holy blessed God as my full perfect and sufficient Saviour Quest 15. What is the second meditation Ans Secondly by the power of the spirit of Christ 2 Sam. 1.26 Psal 42.1 2. by Divine meditation of this unspeakable love of God consecrating his onely begotten Son from all Eternity to be my Redeemer and All-sufficient Saviour so to be affected as to admire this wonderful free love of God in giving his Son and having my soul filled with spiritual longings to enjoy and partake of so rich a gift of grace held forth to my soul in this Sacrament above that wonderful love of Jonathan to David passing love of women Quest 16. What is a third particular act to be done Ans Thirdly Application by the power of the same spirit through the grace of faith so to apply Christ thus consecrated of God the Father to be my Saviour as the Bread and Wine by the Minister to represent this sacramentally to my soul that I may finde I am united by faith and the same spirit of Christ unto God the Father Ioh. 20.17 as to my most tender Father in Christ Iesus for ever Quest 17. What is the fourth Sacramental action or object in the celebration of this blessed Sacrament about which your corprral and spiritual sences should be exercised Luk. 22.19 20. Mat. 26.26 c. 1 Cor. 11.24 c. Isa 53.4 c. Luk. 24.15 c. Ans The sacramental representation or the breaking of Christs body with torments and the shedding of his blood for my sins as Christ our Lords intimates in his institution of this holy sacrament and as foretold before by Prophets Quest 18. What bodily or spiritual sences or organs and instruments of body and soul are to be exercised by you in this Sacramental action of breaking Bread and powring out of the Wine in the Sacraments by the Minister of Christ Ans First the sence of bodily seeing when by the eyes of the body I behold the Minister of Christ breaking the Bread the sacramental body and powring out of the Wine the sacramental blood of Christ prepared and blessed consecrated sanctified by the Word and prayer for this holy use and powred forth for my refreshing as 1 Tim. 4 4 5. common bread and drink so much more this by Christs institution and ordinance Mark 14.22 c. Quest 19. What spiritual sences are to be exercised Ans I ought to exercise the sences of spiritual sight Isa 53. Zach 12.11 13.6 7. Mat. 26.31 ult 27. c. Luk. 22.23 and by faith the spiritual eye of the soul to behold and see the natural body of Christ crucified and broken with torments for my sins though a bone of him was not broken but his soul broken with grief and sorrow in sense of the wrath of God and his body with sense of pains buffetings with fists whippings with scourges crowned with thorns crucifying with tormenting nails mixing of Gall and Vinegar to drink and above all his Agony in the Garden sweating drops of blood and not onely denying forsaking and betraying but sense of his Fathers wrath and forsaking at least in sense to him for a time I say the eye of my faith is to see all this Mat. 27.46 and what more the scripture revealeth in the bitter passion of Christ held forth to my soul in the breaking of the bread and powring out of the wine for me to partake of at the Lords Table Quest 20. What is to be acted or done by you upon the beholding of this Sacramental action of breaking Bread and powring out of the Wine with the eyes and
sence of seeing both bodily by eyes of your body and spiritually by eyes of faith Ans I must still by the power of Christ exercise these three spiritual acts or actions of my soul to be exercised in every particular sacramental action 1. Diligent observation 2. Divine meditation 3. Faithful application and appropriation of all to my own soul Quest 21. How must observation be exercised by you What light shineth from Christ for your direction Ans I ought diligently by the spirit of Christ to observe the sacramental action of breaking bread Luk. 22.17 c. or powring out or giving of the wine according to the institution of Christ as it is a sacramentâ—l actâ—on for the end for which Christ appointed it Qâ— st 22. How ought you to exercise medi ation Ans By help of Christ I ought so to meditate and think of the breaking bread and powring out of the wine as to meditate of Christ crucified his body broken with torments as before noted and his blood shed for my sins Gal. 3.1 Qâ—est 23. How ought you to exercise spiritual and faithful Application and appropriation of all to your self Ans By the strength of Christ and Christs spirit strengthning and communicating strength of life from Christ to my soul I ought to apply by faith and appropriate all this that Christ hath done or suffered as done and suffered by Christ for me and my Redemption and as loving me and giving himself for me his soul to be made an offering for my sin his body to be broken with torments and his blood to be shed to the death for my eternal Redemption and salvation Isaiah 53.10 Galathians 2.20 Heb. 9.12 The twenty eighth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the fifth Sacramental action or objâ—ct of your sences corporal or spiritual Or upon which your sences or acts of life in your soul and body are to be exercised when you are at this holy Sacrament Ans Sacramental commemoration of the death and passsion of the Lord Iesus Christ Luk. 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. and of his Institucion of this blessed Sacrament the same night in whâ—ch he was betrayed his passion crucifying and death so lively set before my eyes in the celebration of this Sacrament and by Christs command to be commemorated and remembred as it is shewed forth until he come Quest 2. What are you to do in this act of commemoration Ans To exercise those three acts before specified 1. Diligently to observe how this Sacrament doth remember me of that sacrifice of the death of Christ of his inestimable love in dying for me and of the most glorious benefits that I am made partaker of in a right meeting of Christ at the Lords Table Quest. 3. What is the second 1 Ioan 4. Divine meditation I ought by the power of Christs spirit 19. Ioh. 17.20 21. to think of this memorial of Christs Death Passion and Resurrection and benefits till I be so affected with it as to rejoyce with it and never to forget this love of Christ but to be delighted with his love as to love Christ again until I come to glory with Christ Quest 4. What is the third Ans By the power of the spirit of Christ and by faith to apply the memorial of this action and passion of Christ unto my soul that it may be engraven upon my heart to be recorded and set before my eyes for ever that evening and morning and mid-day I may remember what Christ hath done for my soul and Christs love may for ever be in my heart and I may say as the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Christ loved me and gave himself for me Qâ—est 5. What is a sixth Sacramental action object or act on Christs part or on yours which is the object of your senses corporal or spiritual or in which these senses operations or actions of the soul and body are to be exercised in this holy Ordinance of Christ Ans Christs congratulation or Sacramental welcom he gives to his faithful prepared guests Take eat Take drink yea all of this and thus bidding them welcom 1. As in the Institution of Christ is evidently set forth unto us Mat. 26.26 27 28. Luke 22.19 20. 2. As Christ invited his Spouse his Church and children Canticles 5.1 Eat friends and drink abundantly O beloved that is eat abundantly not of the outward bread and drink abundantly not of the outward Wine but eat spiritually of the body of Christ by faith and the merits of Christ crucified for me and drink abundantly of the vertue of Christs blood which was shed for me For Christs flesh is meat indeed and Christs blood is drink indeed Ioh. 6.51 c. If I thus eat of Christs flesh and drink of Christs blood I shall live for ever Quest 6. What is to be acted by you And how are your corporal and spiritual sences to be exercised in this congratulation or heavenly welcom which Christ gives your soul at this Table Ans First a diligent observation of this welcom when I hear it with the ears of my body from the voyce of Christs Minister speaking comfortably cheerfully to me from Christ as to a prepared believing penitent humble hungry communicant Take and eat Take and drink in the Name of Christ bidding me welcom to Christs Table as Mat. 26. Luke 22. Quest 7. What is a second thing to be acted Answ A Divine meditation as if by the ears of my soul I did at the same time hear the voyce of Christ as once he spake to his Disciples at his last Supper so now speaking to my soul from heaven and bidding me welcom Eat my friend and drink my beloved I have loved thee I have given my self for thee I have given thee my body crucified my bloodshed for thee and for many for remission of sins feast and refresh thy soul with abundance of assurance of my love to thee at my Table O poor believing hungry and humble soul thou art welcom here in and amongst my congregation of Saints at my Table of grace and thou shalt one day be welcom and eat and drink heavenly and gloriously with me at my Table of glory in the Kingdom of heaven for ever Matthew 22. Luke 22.19 Quest 8. What is the third Ioh. 4.14 15. 6.33 c. Answ A sweet and short ejaculation or ejaculatory and darting prayer to this or this like in effect Even so Lord Iesus I blesse thy name for this sweet assurance of being welcom to thy Table strengthen my faith enliven mine eyes and hand and mouth of faith that I may see and discern thy body and thy blood I may so receive and feed on thy body and blood that I may finde and feel and enjoy such an everlasting vertue and sap and juyce of life from thee my Saviour which may enliven and strengthen thy life of grace in me here in this life to life everlasting in the
for these things 2 Cor. 3.5 Gal 2.16 Iam. 2.10 Gal. 3.24 by the strength of the spirit of Christ my own insufficiency and inability to keep Gods Commandments or ever to be justified by the works of the Law as being never able to perform perfectly that inward spiritual obedience which the Lord requires in his Law but to seek my justification by Christ and in this respect this Law may be said to be a School-master to bring us unto Christ Secondly I may see my weaknesse to walk in this rule of holinesse Rom. 3.20 7.7 Acts 4.12 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Eph. 3.16 c. 1 Thes 5.23 24. Phil. 4.13 which is so spiritually perfect and learn again my extreme need of Christ as a sanctifier as well as a justifier and therefore to seek daily to God in Christ for holinesse in Christ and the holy spirit of Christ that so I may be strengthned by Christ to walk in this path of holinesse for Gods glory and my comfort because I may be able to do all things through Christ that strengthens me and without Christ I can do nothing Thirdly in my daily prayers to my good God and Father in Christ Mat. 6.6 Luk. 10.26 Rom. 2.14 15. from the general and particular duties required and sin forbidden in this and other Commandments comparing this glasse of the Law with the glasse and book of my own conscience by the assistance of the spirit and power of Christ I may 2 Chron. 34.19 20 21. Dan. 9.3 4 5. 1. See my sins Original Actual and of omission and commission against every Commandment and I be more able to confesse them to my heavenly Father and beg the seal of my Pardon in Christ 2. I may beg more strength from God in Christ to glorifie God in the spiritual and holy practise of every duty both towards God and towards my Neighbour Lastly I may learn what graces and spiritual abilities I have received to walk with God by faith in Christ and to perform every particular duty according to my Covenant renewed in the Sacrament Deut. 26.17 c. and give God the glory in Christ Iesus resting upon his promise of blessing And thus we have so far explained the first Commandment The second SECTION of the thirtieth Classis or the second COMMANDMENT 1 Question VVHat is the second Commandment which is next to be considered And what are the parts of it Ans There ate two parts of it 1. The Command it self Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in Heaven above nor in the Earth beneath nor in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them 2. The Reason in the words that follow For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments Quest 2. What is the general sin forbidden Isa 29.13 14. Ans As in the first Commandment the Lord did forbid all false or feigned Gods so in this the Lord forbids all false or feigned worship and service of what kinde soever Latreia Deubeia First whether it be the Lord the true God by any Image or invention of man Deut. 4.15 ctc. Secondly or whether it be to any false or imaginary God to bow down or worship that Numb 33.52 Acts 17.29 Isa 40.18 Ier. 7.14 Rom. 1.21 c. Reu. 22.8 9. Thirdly or to the likenesse or similitude of any either of Christ or of Saints or Angels or Sun or Moon or Stars Birds Beasts or any other thing made by God or devised by man to be our God or for our God or the likenesse of any of them to make the invisible God visible to the outward bodily eyes or to worship or serve God in them or by them Quest 3. What is the duty required or the Affirmative part of this second Commandment implied in this Commandment Ans The Lord commandeth all to worship and to serve him who is the true God Deu 6 13 10.20 Mat. 4.10 1 Sā 7.3 Heb. 1.5 Isa 8.20 Ioh. 4.24 and to worship and serve him onely in a true and right manner even in spirit and truth Quest 4. What is a first particular duty required in the general prohibition Ans To have an eye unto Deu. 4.2 Exo. 25.40 Isa 8.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 2 Tim. 3.25 e. and to consult with the spirit of God in the holy Scriptures both for the matter and manner of our worship and service of the Lord according to his will and this in outward as well as in ward services Quest 5. What sin is contrary unto this Ans To follow the devices and inventions of men in Gods worship Deu. 12.30 c. Mat. 14.8 9. Iosh 9.14 Ier. 32.34 35. without any ground from Gods word or search to know the minde of God in his service Quest 6. What are the particular services or parts of Gods worship in which we ought to worship and serve the Lord in publike or private according unto his Word or will revealed in his holy Scriptures Ans There in divers publike acts and divers private acts or parts of Gods solemn worship and service but we may observe these four that follow 1. Preaching and revealing of Gods Word and will to the children of men 2. Administration of the Sacrament 3. Spiritual sacrifices of praises and prayer 4. Covenants and renewing of our Vows and Covenants with the Lord our God in Christ Iesus Quest 7. How is God to be served in respect of the Preaching and Revelation of the word and will of God Ioh. 1.24 Ans In spirit and truth or with spiritual worship and that in a fourfold respect Quest What is the first Ans Exo 3.5 19.10 11. Eccl. 1. Acts 10.24 25. A holy and spiritual preparation of my heart and minde by examination meditation prayer before I come to meet Christ that I may hear the voyce of Christ more comfortably when I wait upon him in this Ordinance Deu. 33.34 Luk. 10.39 Acts 16.14 22.3 What is the second Ans A humble and diligent attention as at the feet of Christ to hear Gods Word and be instructed by him from the mouth of Gods Minister Quest 10. What is the third 2 Chron. 20.20 Heb. 4.2 Rō 10.4 1 Thes 2.13 Ans A faithful acceptation or receiving of Gods Word with belief as the certain truth of the holy blessed God Quest 11. What it the fourth respect in which the Lord is to be served spiritualy in hearing of his Word Mat. 28.20 Rō 6.17 Ex. 19.5 23.21 Heb. 5.4 Ans In diligent observation and obedience to that which the Lord holds forth to be believed or done to Gods glory and our own good or the good of others Quest
matter of our Worship And therefore 1. Men may see their extreme need of Christ for salvation Iohn 5.40 Mat. 17.5 and come in to Christ for Iustification and life eternal and to rest not upon our best services or performances of holy duties Rev. 8.4 Mat. 17.5 or any our graces but upon Christ for our acceptance with the Lord. Iohn 15.5 Phil. 4.13 2. Even Saints themselves may learn to wait daily on Christ in his Ordinances for true light strength and vâ—rtue from Christ wisely faithfully spiritually and truly to perform our holy services in publike and private Mark 5.30 to Gods glory and our own comfort in Christ Iesus And to direct and help you further for a more comfortable walking with God in Christ by true light from Christ Gen. 5.24 in your duties general as a Christian and particular in your calling and so all Christians in theirs not onely as they respect this second but all other Commandments of the first or second Table yea and as they relate to what is to be received by Faith and believed in the Gospel take these meditations and directions following First consider that the Lord Iesus Christ Ioh. 1.9 he is that true Light that lightneth every man that cometh into the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Light that true that is that true Light with an Emphasis that surpassing excellent Light that increated Light that Essential Light all one with the Fathers Ioh. 10.30 1 Ioh. 1.5 Heb. 1.2 3. Iam. 1.17 Isa 45.7 and so that Light in whom there is no darknesse at all who is the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and the expresse Image of his person That Original Light as God the Father is the Father of Light with whom is no Variablenesse nor shadow of turning so is God the Son the Father and Creator of Light for all things were made by him Iohn 1.3 and without him was made nothing that was made and so he created the light also not as he was God and man but as he was the eternal and onely begotten Son of God As Jehovah is a Name attributed to God Acts 17.28 because he hath his being of himself and giveth being to all Creatures so light is attributed to Christ because he is light in himself and giveth light unto all He enlightneth every man or woman tht cometh into and is enlightned in the world all that receive any true light of nature grace or glory they receive it in or by the Eternal Son of God That external created light made in the beginning when God said Let there be light he was one person of that Elohim Gen. 1.13 Elohim Barah c. the strong Ones Father Son and holy Ghost of whom Moses saith Gen. 1.1 2 Cor. 4.6 Ioh. 1.2 He Created Heaven and Earth and who commanded that light to shine out of darknesse and that as he was with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the beginning and was God with the Father And that internal light of natural reason and understanding created with Adams soul and communicated to the understanding of our first Parents before their fall that was created and communicated by this Son of God together with the Father and the blessed spirit Gen. 1.26 Luk. 10.30 Eph. 4.18 5.8 he was one of that Counsel who made man in the Image of God and give that light of reason unto man which was so wounded and the purity and rectitude lost by the fall our understanding being darkned and we being by nature darknesse not light And for the light of grace Ioh. 9.5 whosoever receiveth that light they received it from Christ this eternal Son of God not only as he is God Isa 7.14 but as he is Immanuel God-Man Theanthropos Ioh. 1.14 God and Man the Word made flesh in whom dwells the fulnesse of the God-head bodily yea all fulnesse Col. 1 19. 2.9 2.3 in whom are hid all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God he being not only the co-essential wisdom of the Father Prov. 8.1 22 c. Heb. 12.24 Acts 20.28 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Cor. 1.30 but the Mediator of the New Testament the eternal High-Priest Prophet and King of his Church who hath purchased us and light of grace and true heavenly wisdom for us and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel yea is made unto us of God wisdom and righteousnesse sanctification and Redemption communicating light unto us As the Moon receiveth her light from the Sun so the Church of Christ and every true Christian soul receiveth the light of grace from Christ Ioh. 1.16 As of Christs fulnesse of grace we receive grace for grace so of Christs fulnesse of light we receive light of grace to prepare us for light of glory 2 Cor. 4.6 light to see the glory of a reconciled God in the face of Christ Ioh. 17.1 2 24. And whosoever have or shall receive the light of glory and life eternal they have and do and shall receive and enjoy that light of glory and life in and by Christ Col. 1.12 God the Father maketh us meet to be made partakers of that inheritance with the Saints in light 2 Cor. 5.19 but is in and by his Son Christ in whom God was reconciling the World unto himself Christ is the true light the fountain Rev. 22.16 Luke 1.78 79. the well-spring the day-star of light who hath visited us To give light to them that sit in darknesse and shadow of death and to guide our feet in the way of peace Now if you meditate and consider rightly and truly how Christ is thus the true Light and communicates true light of grace to sinners and to Saints and that all that are enlightned have and do and must receive their light of grace from Christ and every encrease of the light of grace in the soul is from Christ Then you may see a ground wherefore I call this Catechism A light from Christ leading unto Christ because whatsoever light is in it of God or grace it is from Christ And whatsoever light a poor soul stands in need of it is in and by and from God in Christ to be received And all light new or old which is contrary to the light ot Christ it is but a a false light leading out of the true way of life and light toward darknesse yea it is but error ignorance and darknesse it self and so not to be followed but by the light of Christ to be discovered and avoided yea and the publishers of such false lights to be rejected not entertained If there come any unto you and bring not this true Doctrine and light from Christ saith Saint John receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed 1 Iohn 10 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds By this true light of Christ you may
discover and learn to flye from all that false Antichristian light of superstitious Will-Worship of God by mens inventions contrary to the light of Christ in the light of his Word aqd this Law or commanding part of his will and word in particular Mat. 15.9 By this true light of Christ you may finde out the falshood of those blinding lights who set up the false light of natural reason corrupted since Adams fall without the enlightning of the spirit of Christ Rationis lumen quo Deus ns donavit ostendit non debere nec posso paenam corporalem quam unus debea ab alio persolvi Sociuus Tract de Salvatore above the light of Christ in the scripture as if it were no further to be believed then the sense can agree with the right reason as they call it of their darkned understanding by which as the wicked Arrians they question the Divinity of the Son of God and the All-sufficient satisfaction of Christ for poor sinners Isa 53.5 6. Ioh. 1.12 1 Cor. 2.14 a most abominable error odious to every true Christian whatsoever and most contrary to the light of Christ revealed in Scripture which is sometimes above not contrary to right Reason enlightned by the spirit of Christ By this light of Christ you may see evidently that odious hateful false light of the Mahometan Alcaron upheld by Turkish Tyranny to the miserable slavery and destruction of many thousands I may say the same of those false lights of the Councel of Trent Conc. Trident Decret 1. Sess 4. de Tradit Conc. Trid. de Interpret Script Decret â— Sess 4. making unwritten Traditions of equal Authority with the written Word of God and the Church of Rome the Judge of all Interpretations of Scripture as Cardinal Bellarmine maketh the Pope chief Iudge as being the Church vertual and having infallibility of spirit as he vainly pretends when as in truth his light is darknesse a blinde leader of the blinde to error and destruction I might name the Arminian false light that gilded Popery the Antinomian false light I mean not such Orthodox men who Preach Christ clearly a justifier and sanctifier and love the Law of God the commanding part of the will and word of God as Christ by his light holdeth it forth in Scripture But Antinomian enemies to the Law of God indeed their light is a false light easily discovered by the true light of Christ Others there are not worth the naming who go about like Guido Fauks with the dark Lanthern of Errors A Memento of Nov. 5. 1605. to blow up the Parliament house of the true light of Christ from the Saints if the Lord did not hold forth the light of Christ in grace to quicken them by his Spirit of truth unto glory I say no more of any these false lights but desire the true light Christ if it be his blessed will may bring them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.18 reconciled in Christ Iesus Again if Christ be such a light the true light Then how should every Christian soul highly prize this true light Christ above all false wandring uncertain dangerous light whaâ—soever new or old for this light Lux vera et sincara nil ficti habeus Christ and his light is true light without any counterfeit at all and who will not prise truth above fallehoodjts not a true precious Diamond far more valued then a counterfeite Is not pure Gold far more excellent then guilded Lead or Copper what woman will not prise a rich chaine of precious Pearle above any counterfeit Beads or Glasse or the like what hungry man will value a painted banquet above a solid feast was not the Land of Goshen where was light far more sweet and comfortable then Egypt where was darknesse that might be felt Exod. 10.23 even so is Chrâ—st and his light excelling the darknesse of all false lights in the world look upon the light of Christ it is pure cleare and Genuine as it hath not falsehood so it hath no obscurity in it It is Christs owne proper light as the light of the Sun not borrowed as the light of the Moone if it seem dark to men at any time it is because some Cloud or mist of ignorance or unbeliefe cometh between a soule and Christ Yea Christ is a full and perfect light the light of Christ it self admitteth no lessening no decrease the Moon the more it draweth from the Sun the more her light decreaseth But Christs light doth not diminish at all if any darknesse seem to be it is the weaknesse of our eyes not able to behold the glorious light of Christ as sick eyes cannot look upon the Sun in his glory If Iohn Baptist was a burning Iohn 5.35 Iohn 1.8 and a shining light who was not that true light how much more Christ who is the true light it self by whose brightnesse we may see the glory of a reconciled God 2 Cor. 4.6 as in the Face of Christ The light of Christ is full of vertue to drive away all darknesse from a soule The Land that sate in darknesse Mat. 4.13 c. and in the shâ—ddow of death unto them hath the light shined and then darknesse flieth away Christ shineth in the midle of darknesse He is truly a light to lighten the hearts and the glory or Gods people Israel Luke 2.31 32. He driveth away the darknesse of ignorance out of the minde and understanding and causeth light of Divine and heavenly knowledge to shine into the Soule as it is with the light of a candle brought into a dark Dungeon it expelleth darknesse and light shineth in the place So it is with the light of Christ when he cometh into a darkned soul he driveth out the darknesse of error and light of truth shineth in the place thereof He driveth out the darknesse of unbelief when a soul walketh in darknesse and seeth no light yet when the light of Christ cometh shining into a soul and revealing the light of Divine truth inclosed in the promises the sparks of faith which were as it were raked up in the Embers they are kindled and the flame of faith shineth as a light with joy and peace in believing yea Christ brings the light of joy to a troubled conscience Phil. 4.7 and peace of God which passeth all understanding And how then is the light of Christ precious How is it to be rested in as satisfactory above all other lights whatsoever And how should every soul that liveth and walketh in darknesse draw nigh to Christ for light for he lightneth every man that cometh into the world all that receive light they do and must receive it in and through Christ whether light of Justification or light of Sanctification or light of glory O then my soul come into Christ for increase of light come near to Christ and meet him often in his
Commandements of my Heavenly Father and so these foure first Commandements or first Table of the Law of God Psal 119.101.128 and to refrain from every sinwhatsoever Quest 49. What is the finall cause or chiefe ends at which your soule doth or ought to aime at in this your obedience Ans The prime and chiefe end is the glorifying of God 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 2.9 1 John 5.10 11 12. my God and Father in Christ And the next the Declaration of my love and thankfulnesse to the Lord my God and to shew forth his praises who called me out of darknesse to light and hath freely given me life eternall and everlasting salvation in Christ Jesus The Thirty two Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have profitably and plainely endevoured to declare the duties commaded and the sinnes forbidden in the first Table of the Law of God and held them forth as a light to the feete of Gods Saints by the helpe of the spirit of Christ And in the performance of our Duties and Declaration of our more immediate love unto our God in Christ Now what I pray you do you call the second Table of the Law of God and what are the Commandemtnts comprehended in this second Table what light from Christ to teach this Ans This second Table is that which holdeth forth rules for the manifestation of our love to our Neighbour Mat. â—2 38 39 40. in and for God as our selves and these Rules are comprehended in the six last Commandements of the Decalogue or ten words of Gods Minde to his people Ex. 34.28 Quest 2. What then you doe conceive to be the generall duties of this second Taeble of the Law Ans That which the Lord Christ and the spirit of Christ in the Prophets Mat. 22.39 Levit. 19.18 Rom. 13.8 9. and Apostles holdeth forth unto us namely to love our Neighbour as our selves Quest 3. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of loving our Neighbour as our selves Ans Not to do as we would be done be done by Mat. 7.12 Levit. 19.17 18. Isai 58.7 or instead of love to hate our Neighbour and to hide our selves from our own flesh Quest 4. You say the Lord requireth that we should love our Neighbours as our selves Therefore it seemeth to mee that the Lord requireth his child to love himselfe Now what is this love of a mans selfe according to which hee ought to love his Neighhour Ans Certainly the Lord doth require that a man should in a right manner love himselfe Mâ—t. 22 37 38 39. Phâ—l 2.12 Eph. 5.29 and this love of a man towards himselfe is that love wherewith a Believer should in and for and after God love his owne soule and body in seeking the temporall and eternall good of both for Gods glory and his owne eternall happinesse and salvation Quest 5. What are sinnes contrary to this true and right ordered love of a Man or Womans selfe Ans There are diverse sins contrary to a right and true love of a mans self first a perverse and wicked hatred of Mans selfe Acts 18.6 either of a Mans soule and body by an obstinate rejecting of grace and meanes of grace or willfull Rebellion against God or hatred of his body and life by a Mans desperate rejecting and refusing the meanes of preserving the body and health and life of it or by a desparate destroying of the body and life by any meanes whatsoever An example of this I have seen in divers who in strength and violence of Satans temptations or a kinde of frensie and braine distemper have utterly rejected meanes of comfort some for the soule some for the body some for both as Francis Spira did in Germany after his fall from the Gospell History of Francis Spirra to subscribe to Popery continuing in that sad condition to the day of his death I say nothing of Ahitophel and Iudas 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.5 who wickedly destroyed themselves contrary to the sixt Commandement of which I shall speak in its place Quest 6. What is a second sinne contrary to the true love of a mans selfe Ans Philauty or corrupt and inordinate love of a mans selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either above God which is a wicked Idolatrous love making an Idoll of a mans selfe and setting up an Idoll in his heart and preferring that above God 2 Tim. 3.2 Or to be so inebriated and drunk with selfe love as to admire onely himselfe and turne his affections of love wholy into himselfe as that Misanthropâ—s who hated every man but himselfe â— Cor. 4.14 Thirdly to love a mans selfe from and for himselfe not from and for God in Christ or from Christ Quest 7. But may there not be a good and holy hatred of a mans selfe Ans We must distinguish of a mans selfe there is a threeford selfe First a mans soule and body or person consisting of both considered in themselves as Gods creatures 1 Thess 5.23 Secondly the old Adam in a mans selfe or the corruption of soule and body by sinne Rom. 6.6 either originall or actuall that Law or power of corruption in our members rebelling against the Law of our minds or Thirdly a mans spirituall selfe or the new Adam and image of Christ in the soule the regenerate part Galat. 5.14 the spirit that fighteth against the flesh Now to hate the first of these selfe our soule or body or person is against nature Ephes 5.29 no man ought to hate himselfe though he may loose himselfe for Christ which is love and no hatred And to hate the third the selfe of grace or grace of Christ in a mans selfe The life of grace in us this is against grace this self must be loved and cherished by all means in and through Christ But for the second selfe spoken of namely our corrupt old Adam in us our body of sinne Coloss 3.5 This ought to be hated as the enemy of the well being both of soule and bodie for ever Job 42.6 as Iob abhorred himself and Paul chastised his body and the converted People of God loathed themselves as they were loathsome to God in their sinnefull corruption Ezek. 36.31 Quest 8. You have satisfied mee in this question how a man ought to love and not to love himselfe now what say you in generall of the love of our Neighbour before we come to the Commandements in particular Ans I have described that in generall before That we must love our neighbour in God and for God as our selves Quest 9. Who is our Neighbour towards whom we ought to exercise our Christian love and Charity Ans All that stand in neede of our helpe or love whether they be our own kindred or strangers Luk. 10.36 37. 1 Tim. 5.8 Mat. 5.48 Prov. 25.21 Galat. 6.10 yea our very enemies and especially the household of faith but
wife to be of a contentious brawling spirit Prov. 21.9.19 unquiet provoking disposition in the house of her Husband or toward her Husband wheresoever a contentious woman is there is like a continuall droping Prov. 27.15 which rotteth and consumeth a house to destruction Fourthly Gen. 2.18.23 Eccles 25. Prov. 31.12 the wife sinnes that is not a helper and cherisher of her Husband in sicknesse and in health doing him good and not evill all the dayes of his life Fifthly a wife sinneth in helping provoking 1 Kings 21 25. and furthering of her Husband to Commit or Act wickednesse as Jezabell did Ahab he sold himselfe to work wickednesse in the sight of the Lord whom Iezabell his wife stirred up Sixthly It is a sinne of the wife to be an unprofitable house-wife Prov. 31.27 either carelesse or negligent at home of her Husbands Estate Prov. 7.11.12 Prov. 12.4 not looking to the wayes of her Houshold or in often frequent gadding from home upon idle and unnecessary occasions to the shame of her Husband and neglect of her duty of Coadjutrix or fellow-helper-ship in Government of the Family to Gods Glory and their mutuall good Quest 7. The Commom and particular duties of Husbands towards their wives and of wives towards their Husbandâ— you have revealed by light from Christ now what are the duties of Parents or Fathers and Mothers of Families towards their Houshold and Families Answ They are to Rule their own Houses well 1 Tim. 3.4 Psal 101.1 2 3. c Rom. 16.5 and to Govern them Religiously according to the word of God that their House may be as one of the Churches of Christ Quest 8. In what particulars are they thus to rule and Govern their Families Answ Chiefly in those four particulars viz. Instruction Correction Provision and Example Quest 9. How and wherein ought Parents and Masters of Families to Rule and Order their Housholds by Instruction Answ Not only by Commanding and taking Care that their Houshold and Family do Sanctifie Gen. 20.10 Deut. 6.6 7. and keep holy the Lords day in frequenting the Publike Ordinances but also Catechizing them imprivate 2 Tim. 3.15 and instructing them in the first principles of the Oracles of God Quest 10. In what Correction are they to exercise this Houshold Government what light from Christ herein Answ In exercising of discipline towards their Children and Servants First in words Mat. 5.22 wise Admonitions and holy Reproofes not with reviling Termes Cursing or Banning as too many but convincing reasons out of Gods word Secondly with Moderate and Discreet Correction Prov. 13.24 Jerem. 30.11 Prov. 22.15 Prov. 10.13 not in mercilesse rigour and madd frenzie But in measure as God doth his Children and in pitty and compassion as sorry for such an affliction that they have such Children or Servants sent of God who stand in need of the Rod most fit for the Asses back Quest 11. With what provision ought they to provide for and order their Families with Answ That which is convenient and necessary for them 1 Tim. 5.8 Food and Rayment and comfortable rest in due time Prov. 31.15 c. Quest 12. How ought Parents and Governours of Families men or women to be examples to their Housholds Children or Servants Answ I Answer they are to be leaders and patternes to their Houshold Children and Servants in their words and actions especially in all the Practice of Christian Duties as becometh Saints of the Houshold of Faith Quest 13. You have held forth the duties of Parents of Families by a light from Christ now what are the sinnes which are contrary unto those duties and so a Breach of this first Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother what light from the spirit of Christ to know the said sinnes Answ First Parents and Governours of Families do sinne in not Commanding and causing Children and Servants to waite upon Christ in the publike Ordinances Gen. 18.19 Joshua 24.25 in not seeing them not onely to come to the Congregation but to abide there not as some who bring their Parents or Mistresses to Church and then slip out again and go to what they ought not Besides this Parents and Governours of Families sinne in not calling them to account what they have learned and how they have profited and what they have brought away of the Sermon Secondly Parents of Families sinne in not Catechizing Gen. 18 19. and Instructing their Children and Servants in the Grounds and Principles of Religion that they may be able to make a solemn profession of their Faith 1 Pet. 3.17 when they are called to declare their knowledge and to be approved for their admittance to the Lords Supper 2 Pet. 3.17 18. and to increase knowledge daily in their soules Thirdly Prov. 23.13.14 Governours of Families sinne in not giving moderate and fit correction to Children and Servants when need requireth it when words and admonition will not prevaile Prov. 10 1â— Prov. 29.15 then the Rod is Gods Ordinance so it be ordered in a right manner not to spare when necessity requireth Fourthly Colos 3.21 it is a sinne to provoke Children or Servants with reviling speeches Ephes 6.4.9 or to correct immeasurably without mercy or without mingling convincing reasons if they be able that correction is just and to be submitted unto as Gods Ordinance for the better Instruction of Children and Servants in their duties Fifthly 1 Tim. 5.8 Masters and Governours of Families sin in not providing for their Families Children and Servants what is convenient according to their abilities As Phillip 3.17 so c. As Gods Ministers spirituall Parents so all others Examples 1 Pet 5.3 Sixtly Parents and Masters of Families sinne in giving any evill examples to their Children or Servants either in their words or actions either by sinnes of Omission or Commission by which their Children and Servants may be encouraged to any evill or hindred or disheartned in what is good and well pleasing to God in Christ as spirituall so corporall Parents should be examples Quest 14. What are the generall sins of Children Servants or any inferiours in a Family contrary to these duties or to Superiours in this respect Answ To disobey the lawfull Commands Ephes 6.1.5 of their Superiours and especially of Parents and Masters of Families in any of these particulars Quest 15. The Common duties of Parents and Governours of Families are this held forth unto us what now are the particular duties of naturall Parents towards their Children and what light from Christ to learn these Answ Divers duties of naturall Parents to Children are already expressed Prov. 4.3.4 Psal 103.13 Isaiah 49.15 Gen. 25.28 Prov 19.18 Prov. 13.24 2 Sam 1â— 33 Job 1.4.5 Prov. 20.6 we may now say First naturall Parents duty is to love their Children with a naturall parentall love affectionatly ready to do them good upon all occasions
a comfortable walking with God in Christ in the whole course of our lives or for terrour of wicked and ungodly men Answ First for wicked and ungodly men out of Christ 2 Tim. 3.5 Mat. 5.20 Phil. 3.5 6 7. this declares their damnable condition be they never so civilly righteous or formally and outwardly because the very sinnefull thoughts and lusts and imaginations of their hearts Gen. 6.5 6 Gen 7. are enough to drowne them in the bottomlesse Sea of Gods wrath for ever as the wicked of the old World were drowned in the floud of waters Mark 9.44 yea to drowne them in a Sea of fire in hell where the Worme never dieth and the fire never goeth out Iohn 6.44 45. except God in time open their eyes to see their misery and not onely reveale but draw them to Christ that they may believe and repent and bee saved Secondly for Gods children who are Christ's and in Christ Rom. 7.7 Rom. 7.23 24 25. this by light from Christ may bee a glasse to see their many failings even in their thoughts Phil. 3.7 8 9 10. and teach them first to love and prize Christ more who hath freed them from condemnation and curse of this Law Christ himselfe being made a curse for them that they might be blessed secondly to presse dayly to meet Christ in his ordinances publike Mat. 18.20 and secret and that by his strength their hearts may be more and more purified in believing Acts 15.5 and that by Christs vertue this Law may be written in their hearts Isai 61.3 that they bring forth and abound in all fruits of Righteousnesse that God may be glorified by their walking as a people in covenant with God in Christ Jesus Quest 16. You have declared what a Christian should doe and what use to make of this Rule of a Christian life in respect of his failings and inability to keept this Law But what if the child of God finde himselfe inabled by Christ evangelically to walke after the commandements so as hee believes as his person Gen. 4.1 2 3 4. Heb. 11.4 so his actions and services and performances are accepted with God in Christ how now ought a Christian to behave himselfe Ans To rejoyce in all thankfulnesse in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 2.12 Phil. 4.4.13 1 Tim. 1.12 13 14. that hee is enabled by Christ in any measure to obey his Fathers will and to walke in those steps of holinesse wherin Christ walked in any the least degree in sincerity Isai 26.8.9 and endevour though not in perfection 2 Cor. 12.9 1 Cor. 4.4 Luke 17.9 1â— Titus 3.5 6.7 1 Cor. 1.30 Isai 11.10 Coloss 1.2 2 Pet. 3.18 19. But yet not to rest on our selves or in any or all his duties services or performances for justification before God or peace of conscience but to eye Christ in all as a justifyer and a sanctifyer and to rest in Christ as his peacemaker whose rest is a glorious rest dayly waiting on and seeking unto Christ for vertue and power to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in faith and holinesse praising God in all good workes of piety and charity Galat. 6.16 and by dayly light from Christ walking comfortably with Christ and all the Saints in grace according to Christs Rule untill hee or shee shall be translated to enjoy that full Communion with all the Saints yea with God the Father Sonne and blessed Spirt in Glory for ever Quest 17. Is there any further directory or light Christ for the attaining of power from Christ for this end both in my generall calling as a christian and in my speciall calling and particular relation wherein it hath pleased God to place mee Ans Certainly the best directory is to waite upon the Lord Jesus Christ who is both the way the truth and the life both for direction and power and this dayly as in private Reading Meditation Prayer and Christian conference and Chatechiseing or building up one another in our most holy faith improving our Christian Communion and society to this end for Gods glory and good edification one of another so in the publike ordinance of Christ as oft as may bee in the Preaching of the Word the administration of the Sacraments godly discipline and Prayer that all meanes may bee effectuall in and by Christs vertue to our soules for Gods glory and the good of Gods Church and children Iohn 14.6 Iohn 5.39 Coloss 3.16 as 1 Tim. 4.31 Iude. 2.15 Quest 17. What is the chiefe end of all Ans In all these the glory of God and Kingdome of the Lord Jesus is to be set up both in our hearts and lives untill wee come to Christs Kingdome of glory in the Heavens for ever And in these there are also many doubts questions and cases of conscience to bee resolved which may bee resolved in time if the Lord permit 1 Cor. 16.7 Quest 18. I shall desire the resolution but of a very few questions more and study to declare my thankefullnesse to God and you for what J am instructed in already What I pray you is the best directory for Prayer and Thanksgiving to God that J may receive all graces needfull from God in Christ and abilities to glorifie my God in every state and condition of life into which it shall please the Lord to call mee what light from Christ for this grace Ans First for the matter of Prayer in generall the Directory is that briefe forme which our Saviour himselfe taught his Disciples as it is recorded by the blessed Evangelist Mat. 6. and the 9.10 11 12 13. verses and in these words according to our English translation After this manner pray yee Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed by thy Name thy Kingdome come thy will bee done in Earth as it is in Heaven give us this day our dayly Bread and forgive us our debts as wee forgive our debtors and leade us not into temptation but deliver us from evill for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory for ever Amen Quest 19. Js this sufficient direction for matter of Prayer Ans Yes certainly if the severall petitions in the Lords Prayer be rightly understood here is an excellent direction for a Christian to ground First his confession of sinne to God Secondly his petition for graces wanting And thirdly thanksgiving for grace received and to make his requests knowne to God upon all occasions both for attaining of good and avoyding of evill according to the Apostles direction Phil. 4.6 7. Quest 20. But doe you thinke that the repeating or saying of this or other Prayers as commonly people have used to doe to bee a sufficient manner of Prayer unto God Ans Certainely Prayer is not only a speaking of words with the mouth 1 Sam. 1.15 but a powering out of the heart and soule to God Zach. 12.10 and that by the strength
and fellow-heirs with you and with Christ of Eternal glory Ans I may follow the former direction and wait on Christ First in observation of this union and communion that is between Christ and my soul in this Sacrament as in part is set forth before this Catechism and so observe and consider what an union there is between the ouward signs of Bread and Wine and the inward thing signified and sealed the body and blood of Christ namely a mutual union and relation and this according to the nature of the signs and the thing signified is spiritual and invisible now it cannot be seen with bodily eyes and so there is a spiritual and secret union and yet a speedy present union and as there is a secret spiritual union and relation between the bread and wine and the body and blood of Christ represented to my soul to the eye of faith in me and conveyed to the hand and mouth of faith in me So there is a spiritual and speedy present union between the body and the blood of Christ and my believing soul and a speedy and present communion and union of vertue and spiritual refreshment unto my soul partaking by faith of this refreshing for as the word is no sooner spoken and is united to the outward ear but the thing signified thereby is present and united to the understanding and ear of my minde so it is here and so I do observe a divine and spiritual union and communion betwixt Christ and my soul Mat. 28.20 Rev. 2.1.17 for my more full refreshing at this sweet spiritual and reviving banquet hidden Manna of grace in this holy Ordinance Quest 22. What is a second act or operation of your soul to be exercised for your more full comfort in this sweet and spiritual union and communion with Christ at the Lords Supper Ans Divine meditation when I think and seriously ruminate and meditate again and again How I do exercise two kinde of eyes and two kinde of hands and two kinde of mouthes in this Sacrament and how and in what manner Christ is present as with the signs by relation and representation so with me by present enjoyment how as soon as by the eye of my body I behold the consecrated Elements of bread and wine and these are present to the eye of my body so speedily do I see the body of Christ crucified and the blood of Christ shed for my sins with the eyes of faith and they are present to the eyes of my soul and so I have a union and communion with them immediatly Secondly 1 Cor. 10.16 so speedily as I do with the hands of my body take the bread and the wine prepared and presented upon the Table for me to take but presently with faith the hand of my soul I do apprehend and take the body and blood of Christ presented to be taken and received spiritually and by faith at the Lords Table Thirdly I may meditate That so speedily as with the mouth of my body I do eat and feed on the bread 1 Kin. 19.7 8. Psal 63.1 c. and drink the wine in the Sacrament at the same instant with the mouth of faith or my believing soul I do feed on Christs body and blood and the vertue and merits of Christ are present with me and I have a sweet communion with them and in these or like meditations my soul is fatted with heavenly Manna as with marrow and fatnesse nourishing me in the wildernesse of this world to the Canaan of heaven Quest 23. What is the third principal thing to be exercised concerning this union and communion with Christ and his soul-reviving comforts and benefits in this Sacrament Wherein hath light of Christ appeared unto you for duty in this Iohn 6.56 Gal. 2.20 Ans Spiritual and faithful application of Christ and his benefits to my soul that now as verily as the bread and wine which I have eaten and drunken in this feast are mine and the vertue of them is united to me and I to it so verily the body and blood of Christ is mine and the vertue and benefits of Christs body and blood is become mine and I am united to Christ and Christ to me to my joy everlasting so that I may say with confidence and rejoycing Christ loved me and gave himself for me Quest 24. What is the tenth principal Sacramental act or action which is or may be the object of your corporal or spiritual senses or operations of soul or hody in the right observation meditation and application of which you may wait on Christ the Lord Prince with more full rejoycing in or after your meeting of Christ at the Table of the Lord Ans Sacramental obsignation or sealing in communication of this spiritual union and communion with Christ and enjoyment of Christ and all the benefits of his Death Passion Resurrection Ascention and Intercession yea of his Priestly Prophetical and Kingly Office and of the assurance of all these benefits of Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification Freedom from the condemning and commanding power of sin from Death and Hell with all graces needful in this life and immortal glory when this Mortal life is ended all which are sealed and grounds of assurance of all communicated to Saints in this seal and Sacrament of the Covenant of grace the Lords Supper as Rom. 4.1 Quest 25. In what acts or operations of your soul may you wait on Christ for improvement of this Sacramental obsignation and sealing of this union and communion with Christ and the Saints of God and the assurance of all graces and benefits of Christ to his Church and children in this holy Ordinance Ans In those three before mentioned First In a serious consideration of this sealing by the word of promise and work of Christs spirit and Sacrament or this seal of confirmation of my faith and of all Gods promises of this sealing Ordinance the Sacrament of this body and blood of Christ and of Christs Death held forth unto me in the Lords Supper that as verily as I do partake of the outward Elements of bread and wine so verily the Lord Christ hath and doth communicate unto me the vertue and merits of his body and blood and all the benefits he hath procured to and for the benefits of his Church and children and for my soul in particular Gal. 2.20 for I know he loved me and give himself for me as he did for blessed Paul Quâ—st 26. What is a second operation or act of the soul enlightned and sanctified by the spirit of Christ in and by which you may wait on Christ for improvement of this obsignation or sealing of the Covenant of Grace and all those fruits and benefits Christ doth assure his Church and his Children in his Sacrament Ans Divine meditation by the help and power of Christs spirit to think meditate and ruminate or as it were chew the cud again and again in